Rookie trotters battled Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park to determine the participants for the rich William Wellwood Memorial and Peaceful Way finals.
A total of three eliminations for the Wellwood and two for the Peaceful Way were contested.
Duly Resolved nicely held off Letsdoit S to win the first Wellwood elimination for driver Paul MacDonell and trainer John Bax. The gelded son of Resolve went off as the 2-1 second choice and avenged his first career loss from a week ago.
Posting fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:27.4, Duly Resolved showed the way and felt pressure from Letsdoit S, who pulled the two-hole approaching three-quarters. Duly Resolve would not give in during the final-quarter stretch duel, sprinting home in :27.2 for the victory of a neck in a career-best 1:55.1. Esplosione, who made an early break, recovered to finish third, while Drinks At Home was fourth.
Duly Resolved improved to five for six with the elimination score. The Bax trainee has now earned $158,509 for owners Bax Stable, Dave Hudson, Don Allensen and Gaelic Stable. A $2 win ticket on Duly Resolved returned $6.20.
Periculum shot up the inside to defeat heavy favourite King Of The North in the second elimination for driver Doug McNair and trainer Marcus Melander.
After leading early, Periculum was shuffled back to third, while King Of The North led to the half in :56.4 and 1:26.3. Drifting out in the lane, King Of The North surrendered the lead in the stretch to the inside rallying Periculum. The margin of victory for the career-best 1:54.3 mile was three-quarters of a length. Pretender finished third, while Twin B Archie was fourth.
A son of Muscle Hill, Periculum broke his maiden in style with Thursday’s victory. The Melander trainee has now earned $30,000 for owners Holly Lane Stud East, Brixton Medical and Howard Taylor. A $2 win ticket on Periculum returned $15.20.
Temporal Hanover edged by World At War Deo to take the final Wellwood elimination, giving McNair and Melander a double on the card.
World At War Deo did the work on the front, posting clips of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.3. Angling from the two-hole going to three-quarters, Temporal Hanover would win the stretch battle over World At War Deo by a neck in 1:55.1. Southwind Domino finished third, while Safe Conduct was fourth.
A son of Walner, Temporal Hanover is now four for seven following his elimination score. The Melander student has now earned $129,087 for owners AMG Stable, Kenneth Kjellgren, Rick Wahlstedt and Heights Stable. A $2 win ticket on Temporal Hanover returned $4.20.
The top-three finishers from each Wellwood elimination qualified for the final. A single fourth-place finisher, drawn by lot, advanced to the final. Twin B Archie won the draw and will race in the $640,000 final.
The winner of the William Wellwood Memorial will receive a free slot in the 2021 Mohawk Million.
Venerable improved her perfect record to six for six with an impressive 1:54.2 score in the first Peaceful Way elimination. David Miller took his usual spot behind the Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman trainee.
Dabra Day did the road work, posting fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.4, while on a loose lead. After getting away fourth, Venerable was moved to the outside onto cover heading towards three-quarters. In the stretch, Venerable stormed by her rivals with powerful strides to win by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:54.2. Dabra Day was second, while Samosa, Pocahontas and Missy Trix completed the top-five to advance to the $392,000 final.
A daughter of Walner, Venerable’s six for six record includes victories in the New Jersey Sires Stakes final, Jim Doherty Memorial and a leg of the Kentucky Sires Stakes. The Norman trainee has now earned $315,255 for owners David McDuffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna and Steven Arnold. A $2 win ticket on Venerable returned $2.10.
Even-money choice Adare Castle captured the second Peaceful Way elimination for driver James MacDonald and trainer Mark Etsell.
Looping to the top from second, Adare Castle took the lead racing to the half and posted clips of :58.4 and 1:27.3 before trotting home in :28.1 to secure the career-best victory in 1:55.1 over a rallying American Beauty. Peyton Hanover was third, while Delilah Hanover and Lady Montague completed the top five.
A daughter of Muscle Mass, Adare Castle remains undefeated following Thursday’s score, improving to five for five. Her earnings now sit $210,087 for owners Etsell, Robert Newton, Graham Hopkins and Peter Porter. A $2 win ticket on Adare Castle returned $4.
The post position draws for each final were held following Thursday’s eliminations. The elimination winners earned their connections the right to select their post. Both rich finals will take place on the September 11th Pepsi North America Cup.
The full fields are listed below:
$640,000 William Wellwood Memorial
1 – World At War Deo
2 – King Of The North
3 – Duly Resolved
4 – Periculum
5 – Temporal Hanover
6 – Esplosione
7 – Twin B Archie
8 – Pretender
9 – Letsdoit S
10 – Southwind Domino
AE – Safe Conduct
$392,000 Peaceful Way
1 – Missy Trix
2 – Lady Montague
3 – Adare Castle
4 – Venerable
5 – Peyton Hanover
6 – American Beauty
7 – Samosa
8 – Pocahontas
9 – Dabra Day
10 – Delilah Hanover
AE – Resolving
(Woodbine Entertainment)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.