Apex, with Dexter Dunn in the race bike for trainer Marcus Melander, put on a show in the Grade 1 Mohawk Million on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The sixth edition of the $1 million slot race boasted the deepest field the race has ever seen – and the two-year-old trot battle did not disappoint.
Strobe Lite (James MacDonald), leaving from post eight, blasted off the wings and assumed early control, followed by Dublin Hanover (Ake Svanstedt), Silverstein (David Miller) and 1-5 choice Endurance (Andrew McCarthy), while Dunn, navigating a tricky trip from post one, clung to the rail and settled his charge into fifth heading into the first turn.
A break in stride by Strobe Lite opened the doors for Silverstein to then take a nose lead after an opening panel in :27.4, but his lead was short lived as Endurance glided to the front, with Dublin Hanover third and Apex nestled in fourth.
Endurance, riding a six-race win streak, continued to call the shots through a half in :57, but Dunn and Apex, ranging up on the outside, were turning up the heat on the tempo-setter, who reached three-quarters in 1:24.4 with a one-length advantage.
Apex dialed up the pressure as Endurance dug down deep along the inside and looked to fend off the 5-2 second choice with the finish line drawing closer. Apex finally drew clear late as Dunn took a quick glance over his right shoulder to see if he had any closers to contend with. Seconds later, he pumped his fist when he realized there was no threat.
At the wire, Apex was a 1-1/2-length winner in 1:51.4. Endurance held second and Silverstein was third.
“There was a bit of action going into that first turn, but he just handled like a true professional, and, you know, we got away not too far back,” said Dunn. “He handled really good today.
“He got a little excited there earlier on, but now he's beautiful and relaxed. He seems so intelligent, too. He knows his job and he's only two. So, I moved him down past the half there and he was travelling so strongly around the last turn. I just wanted to make sure he got around it in one piece, and once I asked him, he really put his muscle into it.”
The final time of 1:51.4 was a stakes, track and Canadian record for two-year-old male trotters. The previous record was 1:52.3, set in last year's Mohawk Million by Maryland with Dunn driving for Melander.
Apex's trainer also won the Mohawk Million in 2022 with the Tim Tetrick-driven Oh Well.
“He did it so easily last weekend at Hoosier,” said Melander, referring to Apex's victory in the Grade 1 Peter Haughton Memorial at Hoosier Park on Sept. 12. “You know, he came out of the race good. But I asked Dexter on Sunday there at The Red Mile what his thoughts were, if he thought he had it in him to go another week. And he said he did.”
Prior to the Mohawk Million, Apex’s highest profile score was in the $512,431 Haughton, which also secured him an automatic entry in the Breeders Crown. His other victories include the $312,500 New Jersey Sire Stakes final on Aug. 2 and the $342,466 New Jersey Classic on Sept. 5, both at The Meadowlands.
Apex is owned by Jeff Snyder of New York City, New York, S R F Stable of Del Ray Beach, Florida and Steve Stewart of Paris, Kentucky. He entered the Mohawk Million for his Canadian debut courtesy of the slot held by Hunterton Farms.
Bred by Mission Brief Stable, the son of Walner out of the world champion Muscle Hill mare Mission Brief was a $729,167 yearling purchase at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale.
“We always felt like he was extremely special, very intelligent and you can almost see it in his eye,” said Stewart.
Apex now sports a record reading 6-1-1 from eight starts with more than $1.1 million in purse earnings.
A winner of his past four starts, he paid $7.40 for the win.
The sixth edition of the Mohawk Million generated an event record all-sources handle of $4,662,789, surpassing the previous record of $3.9 million set in 2022.
While multiple stakes winner Strobe Lite's miscue took him out of contention in the Mohawk Million, his participation secured him a $10,000 cheque that helped his trainer, Ben Baillargeon, reach a career milestone. The Guelph, Ont. resident went over $50 million in career earnings.
To view Saturday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Woodbine)