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 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 has 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 stakes winner Ardonne will leave from post three for trainer Megan Scran. In his last pari-mutuel 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 Standardbred Horse 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 10 for the Mohawk Million.
$1 million Mohawk Million (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Apex - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander - 7-2
2. Silverstein - David Miller - Matthew Burkholder - 8-1
3. Ardonne - Scott Zeron - Megan Scran - 3-1
4. Shimmering Hanover - Louis-Philippe Roy - Luc Blais - 20-1
5. Cambridge Hanover - Jason Bartlett - Andrew Harris - 20-1
6. Endurance - Andy McCarthy - Chris Beaver - 5-2
7. Dublin Hanover - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt - 10-1
8. Strobe Lite - James MacDonald - Ben Baillargeon - 10-1
9. Diabolic Hill - Todd McCarthy - Annie Stoebe - 15-1
10. AI - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 15-1
In addition to the Mohawk Million, the field was drawn for the $1 million Metro Pace 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 10 tickets were punched to the rich final.
The undefeated Beau Jangles 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 is below.
$1 million Metro Pace (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Superchamp Hanover - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander - 15-1
2. Frantic Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke - 6-5
3. Al Papi - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 12-1
4. Tilthecowscomehome - Jody Jamieson - Carl Jamieson - 15-1
5. Beau Jangles - Bob McClure - Dr. Ian Moore - 1-1
6. No Waitlist - Scott Zeron - Blake MacIntosh - 25-1
7. Redland Rocket Man - Louis-Philippe Roy - John Pentland - 25-1
8. Sweet Lovin Lou - James MacDonald - Dan Lagace - 20-1
9. Fragment - Jason Bartlett - Per Engblom - 20-1
10. Stingray Deo - Travis Henry - Garry Merner - 25-1
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)