North America’s finest older trotters are set to clash in the 61st edition of the Maple Leaf Trot, Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack. The finest of them all, right now, is Chapter Seven.
Fresh off his recent 1:50.4 World Record-equalling performance in the Titan Cup at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Chapter Seven, the likely post time favourite, couldn’t be coming into the $750,000 event any better for New Jersey-based trainer Linda Toscano.
Last year’s Breeders Crown winner remains a perfect two-for-two with $120,850 in earnings to start his four-year-old campaign for driver Tim Tetrick.
“I’ve touted this horse for a very long time and he’s not disappointing me,” Toscano said. “He’s a special animal and I’ve known that for a long time, I’m just happy he continues to prove it.”
Last season, the son of Windsongs Legacy banked $720,784, despite not racing up to par, according to Toscano. Therefore, heading into the 2012 campaign, Toscano had one goal in mind for Chapter Seven --- the Maple Leaf Trot.
“He was sick for the majority of last year, so I gave him all the time in the world out in the field and brought him back slowly,” Toscano said. “Our main goal was to have him ready for the Maple Leaf Trot, but he came back a little quicker than expected, so we went into the Titan Cup.”
Toscano, who has trained winners of over $23 million, believes no one in this year’s 'Trot' can be overlooked.
“I’ve been doing my homework and watching videos of all the horses in the race and it’s an impressive field of horses,” she said. “My guy will have his work cut out for him. He’s a four-year-old and he’s taking on seasoned veterans, despite his performance so far this year, he certainly isn’t a layover.”
No eliminations were required, so all 10 in the field will go into the historic event in Race 8.
“I’m pleased that there were no eliminations so I could give him a week off,” Toscano said. “He’s coming into the race as fresh as a horse can be and hopefully it pays off. He’s had a great week and he’ll ship to Canada on Thursday.”
A career winner of $1,053,183, Chapter Seven is the picture-perfect horse in Toscano’s mind.
“Just his desire to win stands out, every time he’s in a race he gives you everything he’s got,” she said. “He’s such a competitive animal and he loves his work. If it was up to him, he’s want to race until he was 14. There isn’t a thing not to love about him.”
Toscano can only hope Chapter Seven provides her with another fairytale ending on Saturday.
The Maple Leaf Trot will line up as follows:
Post Position - Horse – Listed Driver
1) Hot Shot Blue Chip – David Miller
2) Daylon Magician – Jack Moiseyev
3) Winning Mister – Brett Miller
4) Chapter Seven – Tim Tetrick
5) Windsong Geant – Rick Zeron
6) Star Ruffnready – Scott Zeron
7) Blue Porsche – Blair Burgess
8) Mister Herbie – Jody Jamieson
9) Arch Madness – Brian Sears
10) Tall Cotton – Randy Waples
San Pail, who has captured the coveted classic the past three years, was not entered into the event due to having sustained a minor injury.
Also on Maple Leaf Trot Night, North America’s top older pacing mares will contest the $391,000 final of the Roses Are Red Stakes, while four Canadian Breeders Championship finals will feature the province’s finest three-year-olds will also take place. First-race post time is 7:10 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Mohawk, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)