The stage is set for a pair of $1 million events on Saturday, Sept. 20 as Woodbine Mohawk Park conducted the draw for both the Mohawk Million for two-year-old trotters, in addition to the Metro Pace Final for two-year-old pacing colts which headline a star-studded evening.
Fresh off his victory in the Grade 1 Peter Haughton Memorial at Harrah's Hoosier Park last Friday (Sept. 12), Apex will lead the field for the Mohawk Million from the rail as trainer Marcus Melander and driver Dexter Dunn look to repeat in the event after capturing last year's edition with Maryland. The royally bred son of Walner-Mission Brief is yet to miss the board in seven career outings, winning five times and banking $631,399 for owners Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable and Steve Stewart.
Just two slots over, fellow Grade 1 winner Ardonne will leave from post three for trainer Megan Scran. In his last parimutuel outing, the son of Tactical Landing-Burberry won the $485,000 William Wellwood Memorial at Mohawk in a stakes record-equalling 1:52.4. Owned by Philip Steinberg, Ardonne has compiled a record of 6-2-3-0 while earning 355,452 on the year before freshening up for the Mohawk Million with a 1:54.3 Mohawk qualifier on Sept. 12 with regular pilot Scott Zeron in the bike.
The streaking Endurance will leave Kentucky for the first time just six days removed from his score in the $555,556 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship at The Red Mile on Sunday, Sept. 14. Trained by Chris Beaver, the son of Captain Corey-Love Session finished fourth in his career debut at Oak Grove, before reeling off the six-race win streak he currently brings north of the border. The $19,444 yearling buy at last fall's Harrisburg Sale has racked up earnings of $543,589 for the ownership group of Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger.
Below is the field of ten for the Mohawk Million.
$1,000,000 Mohawk Million (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Trainer
1. Apex - Marcus Melander
2. Silverstein - Matthew Burkholder
3. Ardonne - Megan Scran
4. Shimmering Hanover - Luc Blais
5. Cambridge Hanover - Andrew Harris
6. Endurance - Chris Beaver
7. Dublin Hanover - Ake Svanstedt
8. Strobe Lite - Ben Baillargeon
9. Diabolic Hill - Annie Stoebe
10. AI - Ron Burke
In addition to the Mohawk Million, the field was drawn for the $1,000,000 Metro Pace Final for two-year-old pacing colts which will also headline the Saturday card. A pair of $40,000 eliminations were contest on Saturday, Sept. 13 where ten tickets were punched to the rich final.
The undefeated Beau Jangle will leave from post five following his career best 1:49.3 victory in his elimination for the driver/trainer combination of Bob McClure and Dr. Ian Moore. The son of Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill is now seven-for-seven with $472,125 in earnings to begin his career for owners Graham Grace Stables, Kiwi Stables and Bolton Stables.
Something will have to give on Saturday though as fellow undefeated elim winner, Frantic Hanover, will leave from post two. The Ron Burke trained son of Stay Hungry-Francessa is also seven-for-seven, with earnings of $436,879 and currently holds the title of fastest two-year-old in North America this year following his 1:49.1 victory in the $410,959 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final at Harrah's Philadelphia on Sept. 5. Tim Tetrick guided Frantic Hanover to a 1:49.4 3-1/2-length score in his Metro elim last Saturday.
The complete draw for the Metro Pace Final is below.
$1,000,000 Metro Pace Final (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Trainer
1. Super Champ Hanover - Travis Alexander
2. Frantic Hanover - Ron Burke
3. Al Papi - Ron Burke
4. Tilthecowscomehome - Carl Jamieson
5. Beau Jangles - Dr. Ian Moore
6. No Waitlist - Blake Macintosh
7. Redland Rocketman - John Pentland
8. Sweet Lovin Lou - Daniel Legace
9. Fragment - Per Engblom
10. Stingray Deo - Garry Merner
The Mohawk Million and Metro will be joined by a trio of additional Grade 1 stakes the $375,000 Elegantimage for three-year-old trotting fillies, $615,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for three-year-old trotters, and $470,000 Shes A Great Lady for two-year-old pacing fillies.
To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)