The $1 million Canadian Trotting Classic final is the marquee event on this Saturday's star-studded race card at Mohawk Racetrack, but two flights of the Nassagaweya Stakes will give race fans a chance to catch some emerging two-year-old pacing stars, as well.
Jack Darling trainee, Carnivore, is the 2-1 favourite in the second of the Nassagaweya divisions, despite a misfire in the $160,454 Champlain Stakes at Mohawk last week.
Prior to that glitch, the son of Real Desire was riding a four-race win streak, including a win in the $300,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes final at Lexington. Though he'll be starting from the middle of the pack in Post 6 on Saturday, Carnivore and pilot Ron Pierce will be looking to have their competition for dinner.
Their biggest threat is likely the entry of Richard 'Nifty" Norman, Straight Shooting, who captured the $100,000 Metro Pace consolation at Mohawk in August and was a solid second in last week's Champlain Stakes contest.
Well Said, who triumphed over Straight Shooting in that Champlain division by a length and a half, is the even-money choice in the first of the two Nassagaweya splits on Saturday.
Trained by Steve Elliott, Well Said is a son of Western Hanover who has also enjoyed the steering skills of Ron Pierce in his last three starts, and will get the Pierce touch again this weekend.
However he may find Post 8 a challenge, especially with fellow Champlain Stakes victor, Scottie C, on his outside leaving from post 10.
Scottie C, the morning line second choice, is a homebred son of Matts Scooter, who set a new lifetime best clocking of 1:52.2 in last week's outing and will have Tim Tetrick in the bike once more to guide him through traffic.
(WEG)
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