One of the tracks participating in this weekend's Bring A Friend national challenge is Mohawk Racetrack, and the Saturday night card of harness racing at the Campbellville oval features top free-for-allers as well as future stars in its stakes-laden lineup.
North America’s top freshmen pacing colts and geldings are about to thrust into the spotlight. The lucrative $700,000 Metro Pace is slated for Saturday, August 31 at Mohawk, but first, a trio of eliminations is required, Saturday at the Campbellville oval.
Illinois-based Joe Seekman has yet to win the rich classic and has a chance with top ranked pacer Lets Drink On It, who has a solid 3-0-2 record from five starts this season.
Seekman, who has trained winners over $17 million in his career, has had nothing but praise for his youngster since his early lessons.
“Since the first day we broke him, he’s been an absolute gentleman,” Seekman said. “He’s just a natural and everything you want a race horse to be. I’ve had high hopes for him since we first bought him and so far he’s living up to it.”
Seekman purchased the son of Art Official for a mere $12,000 at the Lexington Select Yearling Sale last fall.
“Maybe he caught my eye at the sale because I trained his father (Art Official),” Seekman said. “He was a sharp looking colt with presence to him. He did have a curb (a condition which causes the swelling of the lower part of the hock), which was likely the reason we got him at the price we did.”
So far this year, Lets Drink On It has banked $97,417 along with a 1:51.3 career best for owners Martin Scharf, Larry Bond and Hal Hewitt.
The talented pacer has won three Pennsylvania Sires Stakes events including his most recent outing at The Meadows in 1:52 on August 13.
“He’s two fingers to drive and very versatile, but he’s been put on the front recently or close to it,” said Seekman, who has 1,104 wins as a trainer. “He raced very well in his latest and is coming into the Metro in great shape. There’s nothing else we can ask of him right now. For a young horse, he just does everything right and often acts like an older horse. He’s just a natural.”
Three divisions of the $40,000 Metro Pace eliminations will take place with the top three finishers and one-fourth place finisher advancing to the lucrative $700,000E final.
“After this weekend we’ll have a better indication of who the better colts are,” said the veteran conditioner. “Right now, it’s too early to tell, but hopefully we’re in the top group.”
Jim Morrill, Jr. will drive Lets Drink On It from post four in the third elim.
Race 5 - Metro Elim #1
1) Surprise Hanover
2) Tellitlikeitis
3) Marco De Vie
4) Arthur Blue Chip
5) Luck Bewithyou
6) Here Comes William
7) Some Major Beach
8) Wicked Business
9) Avalanche Hanover
Race 7 - Metro Elim #2
1) Play It Again Sam
2) Winds Of Change
3) Western Vintage
4) Major Trick
5) Ideal Jet
6) For A Better Time
7) Somewhere In L A
8) Ideal Magic
9) Twin B Speedo
Race 9 - Metro Elim #3
1) Somesizesomestyle
2) Idealbeach Hanover
3) Beat The Drum
4) Lets Drink On It
5) Three Of Clubs
6) Carraci Hanover
7) Boomboom Ballykeel
8) Journeyman
Also on the 12-race program, aged pacers will compete in two $40,000 Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations. The top five finishers will advance to the $600,000 final.
Race 4 - Canadian Pacing Derby Elim #1
1) Dapper Dude
2) Fred And Ginger
3) Heston Blue Chip
4) Sweet Lou
5) Hurrikane Kingcole
6) Atochia
7) Bolt The Duer
8) Michaels Power
Race 10 - Canadian Pacing Derby Elim #2
1) Warrawee Needy
2) A Rocknroll Dance
3) Aracache Hanover
4) Clear Vision
5) Foiled Again
6) Pet Rock
7) Thinking Out Loud
Two-year-old pacing fillies will also contest two $35,000 Shes A Great Lady eliminations. The top five finishers will advance to the $430,000 final. Both finals will take place on Saturday, August 31, the same night as the Metro Pace final.
Race 2 - Shes A Great Lady Elim #1
1) Shes Da Bomb
2) I Need Hotstuff
3) Bahama Blue
4) Lasting Appeal
5) Precocious Beauty
6) Impatience
7) Ravinia Hanover
8) Act Now
Race 3 - Shes A Great Lady Elim #2
1) Seashell Hanover
2) Wanna Rock N Roll
3) Gallie Bythe Beach
4) Sudoku
5) Beach Gal
6) Ali Blue
7) Take That Hanover
8) Rockingcam Park
9) Put On A Display
First race post time for Mohawk's Saturday card is 7:30 p.m., and the track will be offering Prize Draws, Tip Sheets, Free $2 Bets and a Meet The Drivers area for the Bring A Friend national challenge. Registration closes at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 22.
To view entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(with files from WEG)