Grand Circuit stakes action is set to ramp up again this week at Woodbine Mohawk Park with two-year-olds the focus over the next several weeks.
The entry box for the Grade 1 William Wellwood Memorial ($575,000 est.) and Grade 1 Peaceful Way ($390,000 est.) closes on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 10:30 a.m. The eliminations for these two-year-old trotting events will be contested this Friday, Aug. 15. The finals will then be held on Saturday, Aug. 23.
These marquee two-year-old trot stakes present some of the most lucrative purses on the Grand Circuit and launch the richest part of the racing season.
“We take great pride in our stakes program, especially our offerings for two-year-olds,” said Bill McLinchey, Vice-President of Standardbred Racing for Woodbine. “Trainers of top young horses have opportunities to develop and race for good money with little travel from July through October.”
Additionally, the Wellwood and Peaceful Way both serve as opportunities to get noticed ahead of the Mohawk Million, which takes place on Sept. 20. Slot owners for the Mohawk Million have until the week of the race to declare the horse that will start in their slot.
Rookie pacers will get their first taste of Mohawk Grand Circuit racing on Aug. 23 for the Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation Stakes, while three-year-olds and older horses also have major races in the weeks ahead at Mohawk.
“With it being a Breeders Crown year at Mohawk, the next two and a half months are as good as it gets for Standardbred,” said McLinchey. “We hope to see good support of our stakes and are excited to put this product on for our racing fans.”
A full breakdown of the stakes by division is listed below.
Two-Year-Old Pace
Nassagaweya Stakes (Grade 3) – Aug. 23
Champlain Stakes (Grade 3) – Sept. 6
Metro Pace (Grade 1) – Sept. 13 & 20
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 17 & 24
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
Eternal Camnation Stakes (Grade 3) – Aug. 23
Champlain Stakes (Grade 3) – Sept. 5
Shes A Great Lady (Grade 1) – Sept. 13 & 20
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 17 & 24
Two-Year-Old Trot
William Wellwood Memorial (Grade 1) – Aug. 15 & 23
Champlain Stakes (Grade 3) – Sept. 11
Mohawk Million (Grade 1) – Sept. 20
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 17 & 24
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Peaceful Way (Grade 1) – Aug. 15 & 23
Champlain Stakes (Grade 3) – Sept. 12
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 17 & 24
Three-Year-Old Pace
Simcoe Stakes (Grade 3) – Sept. 6
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Simcoe Stakes (Grade 3) – Sept. 5
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Three-Year-Old Trot
Simcoe Stakes (Grade 3) – Aug. 30
Canadian Trotting Classic (Grade 1) – Sept. 13 & 20
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Simcoe Stakes (Grade 3) – Aug. 30
Elegantimage Stakes (Grade 1) – Sept. 12 & 20
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Open Pace
Canadian Pacing Derby (Grade 1) – Aug. 23 & 30
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Mare Pace
Milton Stakes (Grade 2) – Sept. 6 & 13
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Open Trot
Maple Leaf Trot (Grade 1) – Aug. 22 & 30
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
Mare Trot
Breeders Crown (Grade 1) – Oct. 18 & 25
(Woodbine)