Wrong Sounds Right dashed to a 1:51.1 triumph in the $1 million Mohawk Million, setting the stakes and track record and equalling the world record for a two-year-old trotting male on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The seventh renewal of the marquee Grade 1 race once again put the spotlight on a standout crop of two-year-old trotters, with the Mohawk Million living up to its billing as one of the year’s must-see showcases.
Access Now (Bob McClure) roared to the lead from the outside post 10, while Wrong Sounds Right also got away sharply and settled into second. He was followed by Seven Pledges (Joe Bongiorno) and Nevis Peak (Yannick Gingras), who was carried wide into the first turn and marched onward through a lively opening quarter in :26.3. Nevis Peak found the front and took his rivals through a half in :55.2, with Access Now sitting second and Wrong Sounds Right, the 2-5 choice, waiting for his cue from driver Todd McCarthy in third.
Soon after the half, Wrong Sounds Right was on the move, going first-up and looking confident and comfortable as he set his sights on the leader. The son of Tactical Landing out of the Broadway Hall mare Broadway Jo Ell then took centre stage, gliding effortlessly to the lead shortly after three-quarters in 1:23.4. In full control in upper stretch, Wrong Sounds Right continued to trot with authority down the lane while a game Access Now looked to collar the heavy favourite but to no avail. At the wire, Wrong Sounds Right, trained by Jim Campbell, was a three-length winner. Access Now held on for second, and D A Johnny Cash (Doug McNair) surged for third.
The final time was a blistering 1:51.1. The previous stakes record for the Mohawk Million was 1:51.4, set by Apex in last year’s event. That clocking was also the standard for a two-year-old trotting colt at Mohawk and the overall rookie track record. Wrong Sounds Right joins colt Southwind Tyrion (2020, The Red Mile) and gelding Lifetime Dreamer (2026, The Meadowlands) as the fastest two-year-old trotting males of all time.
“I loved him straight away,” said McCarthy. “He's just been such a gentleman and a professional from the get-go, and he's always just showed so much stamina and speed, and they're pretty special these ones when you get to come across him.
“He's smart, you know, he'll sit on a helmet or you can move him, do what you want. And he's all class. He just does whatever you ask him. He's a pleasure to drive.”
The win was the first Mohawk Million victory for McCarthy.
“This is such a prestigious race to win," he said. "Any race you're going for a million dollars, it's pretty amazing to get them done."
Bred and owned by Scott Farber’s Runthetable Stables of Montvale, N.J., Wrong Sounds Right entered the Mohawk Million via the slot originally held by Courant Inc.
“He was no drama training down, and I got to give kudos to my assistant Manny Quevedo,” said Campbell. “He worked with the colt all winter. He just wasn't able to make it up here tonight, but Manny did a terrific job with the horse and everything that he does. You know, it's a team effort, but kudos to Manny. He told Scott a few months ago, 'I think he got a good one here.’
“As long as everything's good, he comes out of it good, a Breeders Crown elimination will be his next start.”
In his start prior to the Mohawk Million, Wrong Sounds Right stopped the teletimer in a then-career-best 1:51.4 in the New Jersey Classic on Sept. 11 at The Meadowlands. With Saturday’s win, the bay colt is now 5-1-0 from seven starts with $821,721 in earnings.
“The thing that I'm most proud of, to be honest with you, is two weeks ago I shot my mouth off a little bit after the New Jersey Classic, and I said that this is the best two-year-old in America,” said Farber. “I realized that we're going to have to go down and face a pretty good one in the Breeders Crown, but I'm telling you right now, I'm going to stand by it. To me, this is the best two-year-old in America, and I guess it all comes down to the Breeders Crown, like they say.
“It's an honour to be here, and I thank the country of Canada for having us."
Wrong Sounds Right paid $2.80 for the win.
The Saturday card at Mohawk also featured the Metro Pace, Shes A Great Lady, Canadian Trotting Classic and Elegantimage, all Grade 1 events.
A live stream replay of the Mohawk Million/Metro Pace card is available below.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Woodbine)