Last year's Hambletonian and Canadian Trotting Classic winner, Market Share, will be the likely favourite for the 61st edition of the $543,000 Maple Leaf Trot this coming Saturday (July 20) at Mohawk Racetrack.
The Linda Toscano-trained son of Revenue S remains undefeated in two starts this season after a pair of convincing victories at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
The 17-time winner recently posted a sizzling 1:50.3 qualifying effort this past Saturday at the East Rutherford, New Jersey oval, defeating Maple Leaf Trot rivals Uncle Peter (who finished second), Wishing Stone (third) and Guccio (fourth).
The winner of over $2-million in career purse earnings appears to be on his toes heading into the final, according to his veteran conditioner.
“He’s been terrific so far this season,” Toscano said. “I wish I would have had a few more starts into him by now, but it’s just hard finding him a race and I want to keep him relatively close to home and aim for the bigger stakes like the Maple Leaf Trot and Nat Ray.”
Coming into this season, Toscano admits that she hasn’t noticed much difference in her four-year-old.
“A lot of people say that he’s gotten thicker, but to be honest, I don’t see much change in him,” she said. “I think he’s the same type of horse that he was last year. He’s got a great gait and conformation and still covers the ground so easily.”
Market Share will once again face another tough test on Canadian soil. The bay will face off against the richest Canadian-bred trotter of all-time in Arch Madness ($3,961,141) and last year’s defending champion, Mister Herbie ($1,312,263).
“It’s a good field again this year and obviously there are many good horses in this race. We can only worry about our guy and try to have him at his best,” said the New Jersey-based trainer. “He’s had a good week and will ship to Canada sometime on Thursday. The weather has been very hot, so we want to make the ship as easiest as possible on him. We don’t want to take too much out of him. ”
The compact field of eight will feature North America's top aged trotting horses and geldings.
“I would have liked to drawn a little better, but that’s not my department," she said. "Tim (Tetrick) has many options with him and I’ll leave that up to him. He can race on the front or behind and that’s always good when you draw to the outside.”
Owned by Richard Gutnick, T L P Stable and William Augustine, Market Share has a career record of 17-5-3 from 27 career starts and $2,062,202 in career earnings.
The $16,000 yearling purchase took his 1:50.3 lifetime mark last year at the Red Mile for regular pilot Tim Tetrick.
The field will line up as follow:
1) Burnin Money – Jonathan Drury
2) Mister Herbie – Jody Jamieson
3) Arch Madness – Scott Zeron
4) Knows Nothing – James MacDonald
5) Uncle Peter –David Miller
6) Wishing Stone – Jody Jamieson
7) Guccio – Ron Pierce
8) Market Share – Tim Tetrick
Also on the program, North America’s top pacing mares will contest the $391,000 final of the Roses Are Red. The field will line up as follows:
1) Monkey On My Wheel – Keith Oliver
2) Bettor B Lucky – David Miller
3) Drop The Ball – Doug McNair
4) Anndrovette – Tim Tetrick
5) Economy Terror – Ron Pierce
6) Camille – Sylvain Filion
7) Rocklamation – Yannick Gingras
8) Shelliscape – Randy Waples
9) Greystone Ladylike – Scott Zeron
10) Krispy Apple – Billy Davis, Jr.
A lucrative night of racing also includes four Canadian Breeders Championship finals featuring the province’s finest three-year-olds.
Post time for the 12-race program is slated for 7:25 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Mohawk, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)