A Closer Look At The Molson Pace Starters

Eight of North America’s top free for all pacers have earned their spots in the $300,000 final of the Molson Pace, the signature race for The Raceway at Western Fair District, on Friday

night (June 25).

The field includes the defending champion Foiled Again who will be making his fourth Molson Pace appearance. The eight-year-old gelding is clearly the veteran in this talented group. In addition to being the oldest, with more than $3.6-million in earnings, he’s the richest --- and having made 153 lifetime starts, he’s definitely the most experienced.

Foiled Again, who finished a close second after a parked out trip in the fastest of two eliminations last Friday, has drawn Post 6 for the final. His regular pilot, Yannick Gingras, will be making the trip to London once more to guide one of his favourite horses.

Foiled Again is one of three starters in the Molson Pace finale hailing from the powerful Ron Burke Stable (Clear Vision, Post 2; Atochia, Post 3). Burke has enlisted the services of a pair of very talented young drivers (Matt Kakaley and Jason Bartlett) to make the trip to London for the first time to guide the pair.

Kakaley, who earlier this year became the youngest driver to reach 2,000 career victories at 23, will be aboard Clear Vision, who earned his way into the final with a victory for John Campbell who will steer Razzle Dazzle in the final.

Bartlett, 31, will drive Atochia in the final. Bartlett, who has recorded 4,320 driving wins in his career, has driven his mounts to more than $41-million in purses earnings to date. Bartlett is familiar with Atochia, having driven him on several occasions during his career.

Should one of Burke’s three starters win the Molson Pace, he would become the first trainer to ever win three consecutive Molson Pace finals since the race was introduced in 1972. Foiled Again took last year’s event, while Won The West was victorious the previous year.

Another trainer with more than one starter in the Molson Pace final is local conditioner Gregg McNair, whose Aracache Hanover won his elimination on Friday night in 1:51, which is just one-fifth of a second off the track record. McNair’s son, Doug, will be up behind Aracache from Post 7, while McNair’s other starter, Stonebridge Tonic, has drawn Post 8 with Trevor Henry at the lines.

Henry, the leading driver at the WFD, and McNair have partnered before to capture the Molson Pace (Eagle Luck, 2008).

The following are brief bios of each of the eight starters in Friday night’s Molson Pace.

1. St Elmo Hero p, 1:49.1 ($499,960)
(br.g., 6, Western Hero ~ Crystal Crickett ~ Cedar Ridge)
Life Summary: 52 – 29 – 8 – 6
Owner: John Barnard, Illinois
Breeders: Fair Meadow Farm, Il. & Hoosier Standardbred Farm, In.
Trainer: Meg Crone
Driver: Anthony Haughan
Pedigree Notes: Dam, Crystal Crickett, earned $258,000 in her career. St Elmo Hero is the first of only two foals.
Sale History: Claimed for $8,000 on July 14, 2010 at Balmoral Park.
Elimination Performance: Third to Clear Vision.

2. Clear Vision p, 3, 1:49.3f ($987,022)
(br.g., 6, Western Hanover ~ Artistic Vision ~ Artsplace)
Life Summary: 107 – 18 – 19 - 18
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, The Panhellenic Stable & James Koran, Pa, NY & Ohio
Breeders: Steve Stewart, Francene, Julie & Steve Nash, Kentucky
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Matt Kakaley
Pedigree Notes: First foal of Artistic Vision, a winner of over $644,000 in her career, a half-brother to O'Brien Award winner Rock N Roll Heaven ($2.7 million).
Sale History: $180,000 yearling at Lexington Select Sale.
Elimination Performance: Winner in 1:52.2.

3. Atochia p, 1:49s ($1,660,324)
(br.g., 7, Dragon Again ~ Hot Shot Michelle ~ Artsplace)
Life Summary: 128 – 27 – 32 - 21
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC & JJK Stables, Pa & Fla.
Breeders: Linda & Lee DeVisser, Mi.
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Jason Bartlett
Pedigree Notes: Dam earned a mark of 1:50.3 and $133,000 in her career and is a half-sister to $1.9-million winner Jennas Beach Boy.
Sale History: $75,000 Yearling 2006 Harrisburg Sale.
Elimination Performance: Second, by a half length, to Clear Vision.

4. Machal Jackson p, 3, 1:50.1s ($370,016)
(br.g., 4, Mach Three ~ Warrawee Cammy ~ Camluck)
Life Summary: 60 – 7 – 7 - 10
Owners: Brenda Selwyn Waxman & Yin Yee Wong, Ontario
Breeders: St Lads Farm, Ontario
Trainer: Isaac Waxman
Driver: J.R. Plante
Pedigree Notes: Dam is a three-quarter sister to $609,000 winner Warrawee Flare.
Sale History: $61,000 yearling Canadian Open.
Elimination Performance: Fourth to Aracache Hanover.

5. Razzle Dazzle p, 4, 1:49.3f ($433,899)
(b.g., 5, Real Desire ~ Town Feather ~ Big Towner)
Life Summary: 42 – 11 – 7 - 6
Owner: Ira Kristel, Fla.
Breeders: Adam Victor & Son Stable, Gate To Wire Ltd., Delegance Stable, NY, Ohio & NJ.
Trainer: Richie Silverman
Driver: John Campbell
Pedigree Notes: Third foal of the $113,000 winner Town Feather, half-brother to Duke Did It ($244,000).
Sale History: $32,000 yearling Lexington Select Sale.
Elimination Performance: Third to Aracache Hanover.

6. Foiled Again p, 1:48.1s ($3,655,856)
(b.g., 8, Dragon Again ~ In A Safe Place ~ Artsplace)
Life Summary: 153 – 61 – 38 - 17
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC & JJK Stables, Pa & Fla. Breeders: Barbara Matthews, SC
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Pedigree Notes: Second foal from In A Safe Place p, 3, 1:54.4 ($86,058).
Sale History: $20,000 Yearling 2005 Harrisburg Sale.
Elimination Performance: Winner second elimination.

7. Aracache Hanover p, 4, 1:49.1f ($1,143,537)
(br.h., 5, Dragon Again ~ Armbro Cachet ~ Camluck)
Life Summary: 64 – 19 – 12 – 10
Owners: William Switala & James Martin, NY
Breeders: Hanover Shoe Farms, Pa.
Trainer: Gregg McNair
Driver: Doug McNair
Pedigree Notes: First foal from Armbro Cachet p, 3, 1:52.4s ($119,503), a half-sister to Shipps Xpectancy ($526,000).
Sale History: $37,000 Yearling 2008 Harrisburg Sale.
Elimination Performance: Winner in 1:51, a tick off the track record.

8. Stonebridge Tonic p, 4, 1:50.1 ($576,289)
(b.h., 5, Camluck ~ Glacier Express ~ Artsplace)
Life Summary: 66 – 17 – 7 - 4
Owners: Len Gamble & Gregg McNair, Ontario
Breeder: Angie Stiller, Ontario
Trainer: Gregg McNair
Driver: Trevor Henry
Pedigree Notes: Full or half-brother to Stonebridge On Ice ($397,000), Stonebridge Magnum ($215,158), from a full sister to millionaire Electrical Art.
Sale History: $52,000 yearling Forest City Sale.
Elimination Performance: Fourth to Clear Vision.

(WFD)