Nine of Canada's finest older trotters will bring a combined bankroll of more than $4.1 million into Sunday's (August 22) Earl Rowe Memorial at Georgian Downs, and there is no shortage of star power slated to compete for the $75,000 purse.
After unplaced efforts south of the 49th parallel in the Spirit of Massachusetts and the Cashman Memorial, 2019 Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade returns to Canada in search of redemption for Serge Godin's Determination and trainer Luc Blais. Forbidden Trade's usual driver, Bob McClure, steered him to a 1:56.3 qualifying win at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday (August 17), and will handle the lines once again Sunday from post two. Earlier this season, the five-year-old son of Kadabra posted a 1:51.1 win over Lindy The Great and Manchego in the Crawford Farms Trot at The Meadowlands, and finished third in the Maxie Lee Memorial.
While Forbidden Trade and his $1.6-million bankroll represent the time-tested class of the Rowe field, Chris and Michael Storms' Combs Hanover represents the new generation of Ontario trotters, coming into the Rowe off three wins in his last five starts — two of them against Preferred competition. On Tuesday, Aug. 10, the four-year-old Archangel gelding took his 1:52 lifetime mark, nosing out fellow Rowe entrant Oney Hall in a Preferred at Mohawk in line to trainer/driver Paul MacDonell.
O'Brien Award winner Perfetto looks to build on a third-place finish in last year's Rowe on the strength of a solid six-year-old season to date for trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen. The Majestic Son gelding may have only won once in 11 starts so far this year, but he has recorded nine top-three finishes while competing almost exclusively in the Preferred ranks at Mohawk. In addition to show honours in the 2020 Rowe, Perfetto won seven times and amassed over $150,000 in earnings for owner Gerald Haggerty on his way to O'Brien accolades as Canada's top older trotter.
The complete Earl Rowe field is as follows:
$75,000 Earl Rowe Memorial Trot
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Pikachu Hanover - Austin Sorrie - Gregg McNair
2. Forbidden Trade - Bob McClure - Luc Blais
3. Only For Justice - Chris Christoforou - Dany Fontaine
4. Muscle Fashion - James MacDonald - Carmen Auciello
5. Combs Hanover - Paul MacDonell - Paul MacDonell
6. Perfetto - Dagfin Henriksen - Dagfin Henriksen
7. Oney Hall - Trevor Henry - Bob McIntosh
8. Reign Of Honor - Denis St Pierre - Denis St Pierre
9. Mass Fortune K - J.R. Plante - Carmen Auciello
Sunday's card at Georgian also features a $100,000 Invitational for four-year-old pacers, with a nine-horse field led by Tattoo Artist and Warrawee Vital.
$100,000 Four-Year-Old Invitational Pace
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Warrawee Vital - Trevor Henry - Rob Fellows
2. Fortify - Austin Sorrie - Nancy Takter
3. Beyond Better - Trevor Henry - Bob McIntosh
4. Tattoo Artist - Bob McClure - Ian Moore
5. Cold Creek Cabo - Austin Sorrie - William Slack
6. Mayhem Hanover - Chris Christoforou - Gregg Mcnair
7. Groovy Joe - Jody Jamieson - Blake MacIntosh
8. Moneyman Hill - J.R. Plante - Duane Marfisi
9. Poseidon Seelster - James MacDonald - Don Lindsey
*Final driver changes have not yet been made.
To view Sunday's complete entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Georgian Downs.