Friday evening’s (Aug. 26) card at Woodbine Mohawk Park saw a small preview of next Saturday’s Maple Leaf Trot, as six of the entrants battled in a $50,000 Open Trot.
Atlanta, the 2020 Maple Leaf Trot champion, went coast-to-coast on the front for a 1:52.3 score. The Ron Burke trained superstar got to call the shots with driver Sylvain Filion, posting fractions of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:24.4 before a :27.4 kicker.
Its Academic followed Atlanta throughout and finished second by just over two lengths. Forbidden Trade was able to edge Perfetto for third. Logan Park and Locatelli both made breaks near the start to round out the field of six.
Atlanta now has four wins in nine starts this season to push her career total to 35 wins. The seven-year-old mare surpassed $200,000 in seasonal earnings and currently sits at $3.5 million for her remarkable career.
Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor share ownership of Atlanta. She paid $3.30 to win.
The draw for next Saturday’s Maple Leaf Trot final will take place Saturday night. The full field (listed in alphabetical order) is available below:
Alrajah One IT (Ake Svanstedt)
Atlanta (Ron Burke)
Back Of The Neck (Ake Svanstedt)
Ecurie D DK (Ake Svanstedt)
Fashion Frenzie (Richard Moreau)
Forbidden Trade (Luc Blais)
Its Academic (Ron Burke)
Locatelli (Harry Poulton)
Logan Park (Rob Fellows)
Perfetto (Dagfin Henriksen)
So Much More repeated at the top class to take her fourth-consecutive victory in the $33,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. The Don Beatson-trained six-year-old by Big Jim sat off fractions of :27 and :54.4 set by Awesome Hill before moving into action. Driver James MacDonald sent So Much More off the pegs around the final turn and collared Awesome Hill past three-quarters in 1:22.3 to cruise home a 1-1/2-length winner in 1:50.1. Awesome Hill held second from Amazing Dream N in third with Western Wish closing for fourth.
Don Beatson co-owns So Much More with Kenenth Beatson and Cole England. She won her 51st race from 113 starts and has now banked $1,035,448. She paid $3.60 to win.
Grand Circuit action continues Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 12-race card features the finals of the William Wellwood Memorial and Peaceful Way, plus the eliminations of the Canadian Pacing Derby and divisions of the Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation. Post time is 7 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(with files from Woodbine)