Seven three-year-old trotters were entered Tuesday morning for the $682,000 Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday, September 13.
With seven horses entered, eliminations are not required for this year’s edition of the Canadian Trotting Classic.
Headlining the group of seven is the Jimmy Takter trained duo of Father Patrick and Trixton.
Father Patrick is coming into the Canadian Trotting Classic off a victory last Friday night in the $340,000 Zweig Memorial at Vernon Downs. The son of Cantab Hall–Gala Dream has won 17 of his 20 career starts, including capturing last year’s William Wellwood Memorial at Mohawk in a track and Canadian record time of 1:53.4.
Father Patrick was named last year’s Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year on both sides of the border and has earned $1,452,396 in his career.
The other half of the Takter duo, Trixton, most recently won the $218,076 Simcoe Stakes last Saturday night at Mohawk. The son of Muscle Hill–Emilie Cas El, Trixton won this year’s $1 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands on August 2.
He also found success earlier this season at Mohawk when he won the $272,100 Goodtimes Stakes on June 14 in a Track and Canadian record clocking of 1:51.3. Trixton has 12 victories in 18 career starts for earnings of more than $960,000.
Also joining the Takter duo in the rich final is Ontario Sires Stakes star Harper Blue Chip. Trained by Mark Steacy, Harper Blue Chip won this year’s Canadian Breeders Championship and finished third in the Hambletonian. The son of Canadian Trotting Classic winner Majestic Son, Harper Blue Chip has visited the winner’s circle eight times in his career for earnings of more than $547,000.
The other four horses in this year’s Canadian Trotting Classic field are Damfoolrmillionair, E L Titan, Il Sogno Dream and Muscle Matters.
Established in 1976, the Canadian Trotting Classic has been won by many great trotters including Joie De Vie, Giant Victory, Yankee Paco, Kadabra, Mr Muscleman, Windsongs Legacy, Donato Hanover, Deweycheatumnhowe and Muscle Hill.
Also on Tuesday morning, eleven three-year-old trotting fillies were entered for this year’s Elegantimage Stakes. Those 11 fillies will go directly to the $409,000 final on Canadian Trotting Classic night (September 13).
Leading the group of fillies is Shake It Cerry, a winner of more than $1.2 million, from the Jimmy Takter barn. The daughter of Donato Hanover–Solveig is coming off a victory in the $150,000 filly edition of the Zweig Memorial last Friday at Vernon Downs.
Shake It Cerry has won 16 of 21 career starts and has won many notable stakes events, including the Del Miller Memorial back in July and last year’s two-year-old filly trot Breeders Crown.
Also highlighting the group of 11 is the Julie Miller-trained Designed To Be. The daughter of Donato Hanover–Sheer Soul won a division of the $103,845 Simcoe Stakes last Friday night at Mohawk. Designed To Be has won three times and has never been worst than third in seven starts this season. She has seven career victories for earnings of more than $593,000 and has only missed board once in 15 career starts.
Muscle Babe and Riveting Rosie are two of four Ontario sired fillies in the field.
Trained by Dave Menary, Muscle Babe has won four times in 10 starts this season, including the $178,287 SBOA Stakes on May 31 at Mohawk. She has six wins in 18 career starts and career earnings exceeding $248,000.
Riveting Rosie was last year’s Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year in Canada. She only lost twice last season in eight starts and captured $374,000 Peaceful Way Stakes at Mohawk. Trained by John Bax, Riveting Rosie has not had nearly as much success this season, but recently picked up her first win of 2014 in a $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event at Grand River Raceway on August 13. Riveting Rosie has won seven times in 18 career starts for earnings of more than $550,000.
The full field for the $409,000 Elegantimage Stakes on Saturday, September 13 in alphabetical order consists of Chivaree Hanover, Demanding Sam, Designed To Be, Heavens Door, Muscle Babe, Riveting Rosie, Scream And Shout, Shake It Cerry, Sweetie Hearts, Tosca and Vanity Matters.
Along with the Canadian Trotting Classic and Elegantimage Stakes finals on September 13, Mohawk will also have the finals for the $390,000 William Wellwood Memorial and the $385,000 Peaceful Way.
Also on that evening, Mohawk will be hosting customer appreciation night. Visit MohawkRacetrack.com for more details in the coming days.
(WEG)