$570,000 Wellwood & $425,000 Peaceful Way headline Mohawk Stakes weekend

Grand Circuit action for harness racing’s young and veteran performers will take over Woodbine Mohawk Park this weekend.

The Campbellville, Ont. oval will be major race central for the next five weeks. This Saturday’s William Wellwood Memorial and Peaceful Way are two of nine Grade 1 finals that will be held from Aug. 29 through Sept. 26. That timeframe also includes several more graded stakes events.

The Wellwood and Peaceful Way are the two main events for this Saturday’s card and are complimented by the Nassagaweya (Grade 3), Eternal Camnation (Grade 3) and eliminations for the Canadian Pacing Derby (Grade 1). The Maple Leaf Trot (Grade 1) eliminations will take place a night earlier on Friday’s 13-race card.

Below is a breakdown of this weekend’s William Wellwood Memorial, Peaceful Way, Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations and Maple Leaf Trot eliminations.

$570,000 William Wellwood Memorial (Grade 1) – Saturday, Race 9

Last year’s winning trainers of Mohawk’s million-dollar two-year-old races will clash in the William Wellwood Memorial for two-year-old trotters.

Trainer Dr. Ian Moore captured the 2025 Metro Pace (Grade 1) with Horse of the Year Beau Jangles and is now front and centre on the trotting side with elimination winner Detonater Hanover. Meanwhile, Marcus Melander took home another title in the 2025 Mohawk Million with Apex and now looks to win his third Wellwood trophy with elimination winner Gios Hope.

Detonater Hanover stopped the clock in his elimination in a career best 1:52.3, while Gios Hope moved to the lead in the second-quarter of his split and trotted to a new mark of 1:54.2.

Tyler Moore has driven Detonater Hanover in all five career outings, posting three wins and a second. Dexter Dunn has driven Gios Hope in all four starts, scoring three wins and a third.

Melander trainee Top Reacher and Cameron Capone student Ocean Storm were both within half a length of Detonater Hanover last Friday. Access Now for Luc Blais was fourth only beat a length in the fast mile.

Free Scottie was runner-up to Gios Hope in his elimination and gives Melander three shots for another Wellwood crown.

The field for the William Wellwood Memorial is listed below:

1. Access Now (Walner)- Bob McClure – Luc Blais
2. Detonater Hanover (Muscle Mass)- Tyler Moore – Dr. Ian Moore
3. Gios Hope (Chapter Seven)- Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
4. Kountry Cantab (King Of The North)- Trevor Henry – Dan Lagace
5. Top Reacher (Muscle Hill)- Scott Zeron – Marcus Melander
6. Ocean Storm (Chapter Seven)- Yannick Gingras – Cameron Capone
7. Data Breach (Muscle Hill)- Bob McClure – Luc Blais
8. Free Scottie (Walner)- James MacDonald – Marcus Melander
9. Yankee Boss (Captain Corey)- Yannick Gingras – Ake Svanstedt
10. The Italian Job (Captain Corey)- Todd McCarthy – Rick Zeron
AE. Honcho (Greenshoe) – Doug McNair – Gregg McNair

$425,000 Peaceful Way (Grade 1) – Saturday, Race 7

The Marcus Melander barn has another major chance in the Peaceful Way for two-year-old trotting fillies, sending out the one-two punch of elimination winner Athenas Girl and runner-up Loves Passion.

Athenas Girl unleashed a :26.4 final quarter to win her elimination for driver Dexter Dunn in 1:54. Loves Passion and Dunn were half a length short to the strong rallying Dataprivacy for driver Bob McClure and trainer Luc Blais in the other split, which was timed in 1:54.4.

Melander has yet to win the Peaceful Way, while Blais has trained a pair of winners in the event (Donna Soprano, Drawn Impression).

The field for the Peaceful Way is listed below:

1. Nevis Peak (Walner)- Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
2. Loves Passion (Walner)- James MacDonald – Marcus Melander
3. Verily (Muscle Mass)- Louis-Philippe Roy – Meg Crone
4. Creamy Armitage (Walner)- Jason Bartlett – Linda Toscano
5. Dataprivacy (Muscle Hill)- Bob McClure – Luc Blais
6. Athenas Girl (Walner)- Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
7. Beauts Cabaret (International Moni) – Doug McNair – Stephen Bossence
8. Elusive Station (King Of The North)- Todd McCarthy – Chantal Mitchell
9. City Of Light (Chapter Seven)- Scott Zeron – Nancy Takter
10. Major Contender (King Of The North) – Jody Jamieson – Carl Jamieson
AE. Treasure King (King Of The North)- Jody Jamieson – Carl Jamieson

$50,000 Canadian Pacing Derby Eliminations – Saturday, Races 5 & 8

Canada’s premier race for open pacers will feature 18 heavyweights battling over two eliminations to qualify for the rich Grade 1 final on Sept. 5.

Supplement entry Best Chip leads the first elimination for trainer Joe Bongiorno. The four-year-old is currently the fastest horse in North America this season after a sizzling 1:46.1 victory on Aug. 8 at The Meadowlands. Best Chip is taking his biggest step up to date by entering the Canadian Pacing Derby. He holds a seasonal record of seven wins from 12 starts, two being in sub-1:47.

The first elimination also features local favourite Crack Shot for trainer Gregg McNair and 2023 Pacing Derby runner-up Bythemissal for trainer Ron Burke. A top five finish on Saturday would earn Bythemissal his third Pacing Derby appearance.

Powerhouse Ervin Hanover will compete in the second elimination. The Dave Menary-trained six-year-old was runner-up in last year’s final and has followed up his award-winning 2025 season with four wins in five starts this year.

Dr. Ian Moore trainee Prince Hal Hanover will look to give his trainer a chance at a second Pacing Derby win after Tattoo Artist won in 2023. Lou Hill, trained by Per Engblom, is another notable entrant in the second split. He’s posted nine wins and five seconds in 16 starts this season.

The fields for the Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations are listed below:

Elimination #1
1. Crack Shot (Bettor’s Delight)- Doug McNair – Gregg McNair
2. Fallout (Captaintreacherous)- Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke
3. Coaches Corner (Always A Virgin)- Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom
4. Best Chip (Heston Blue Chip)- Tim Tetrick – Joe Bongiorno
5. Huntinthelastdolar (Huntsville)- Jason Bartlett – Per Engblom
6. For Once Inmy Life (Downbytheseaside)- Jordan Stratton – Cory Stratton
7. Bythemissal (Downbytheseaside)- Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke
8. Fusion (Always B Miki)- Jody Jamieson – Todd Luther
9. Oakwood Ardan IR (Sweet Lou)- James MacDonald – Robert Cleary

Elimination #2
1. Women Layer (Sweet Lou)- Doug McNair – Virgil Morgan Jr.
2. Clever Cody (The Panderosa) – Luke Ebersole – Francois Lecomte
3. Calicojack Hanover (Captaintreacherous)- Bob McClure – Luc Blais
4. Lou Hill (Sweet Lou)- Yannick Gingras – Per Engblom
5. Ayeaye Captain Deo (Captaintreacherous)- Bob McClure – Garry Merner
6. Harrisburg Heist (Downbytheseaside)- Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
7. Ervin Hanover (Captaintreacherous)- Dexter Dunn – David Menary
8. Swingtown (Downbytheseaside)- Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
9. Prince Hal Hanover (Captaintreacherous)- Todd McCarthy – Dr. Ian Moore

$50,000 Maple Leaf Trot Eliminations – Friday, Races 7 & 10

Woodbine Mohawk Park’s marquee race for open trotters has attracted 13 entrants for this Friday’s eliminations.

Defending champion Lexus Kody will go forward in the first elimination for regular driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke. The eight-year-old gelding has won three of seven starts this season after a million-dollar campaign in 2025.

The first split also has Nancy Takter trainee French Wine returning to the site of his biggest win. The six-year-old captured the Breeders Crown Open Trot (Grade 1) last October at the Campbellville oval. He has yet to taste victory this season in only three starts.

Four-year-old mare Yo Tillie will notably take on the boys in the first Maple Leaf Trot elimination for trainer Andrew Harris. She’s won three of seven this season after a near perfect 11-for-12 sophomore season.

The second elimination is a heavyweight tilt with Canada’s best open trotters Logan Park and Emoticon Legacy meeting up with U.S. powerhouse Super Chapter and the ultra-consistent Antognoni S.

Kyle Fellows-trained Logan Park has won seven of 11 starts this season, while Emoticon Legacy has met Logan Park in all four of his starts this season, posting a win and three seconds for trainer Luc Blais.

The eight-year-old Logan Park will look to secure his fourth Maple Leaf Trot final appearance, while four-year-old Emoticon Legacy gets his first major challenge against the sport’s top open trotters.

The Marcus Melander-trained Super Chapter has adjusted well in his four-year-old season to older rivals. After making his first four starts against trotters his own age, Super Chapter delivered a victory in the Cashman Memorial (Grade 1) on Aug. 8 at The Meadowlands.

Swedish import Antognoni S will make his Canadian debut for trainer Ron Burke and co-owner/driver Yannick Gingras. The six-year-old gelding has won six of eight starts this season, with his only losses being second-place efforts. Overall, Antognoni S has won 22 of 32 starts since arriving in North America.

The fields for the Maple Leaf Trot eliminations are listed below:

Elimination #1
1. Osceola (Muscle Mass)- Doug McNair – Gregg McNair
2. Yo Tillie (Tactical Landing)- Todd McCarthy – Andrew Harris
3. Lexus Kody (Archangel)- Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
4. Aetos Kronos S (Bold Eagle)- Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
5. Private Access (Muscle Hill)- James MacDonald – Luc Blais
6. French Wine (Bar Hopping)- Jason Bartlett – Nancy Takter

Elimination #2
1. Antognoni S (Father Patrick)- Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
2. Emoticon Legacy (Walner)- Bob McClure – Luc Blais
3. Up Your Deo (Walner)- Tim Tetrick – Ake Svanstedt
4. Logan Park (Archangel)- Doug McNair – Kyle Fellows
5. Super Chapter (Chapter Seven)- Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
6. Go Dog Go (Greenshoe)- Scott Zeron – Carter Pinske
7. Hasty Bid (My MVP)- James MacDonald – Paige MacDonald

Friday’s card also included the fourth leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series for three-year-old pacing fillies, comprised of two $30,000 divisions.

Saturday’s card also includes two $110,000 Nassagaweya Stakes (Grade 3) divisions for two-year-old open pacers and two $120,000 Eternal Camnation (Grade 3) divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.

The Milton Stakes for older pacing mares did not require eliminations. Here are the nine mares that will compete in the Grade 2 stakes final on Saturday, Sept. 5, listed in alphabetical order:

• Absolution (McWicked)
• Cold Creek Fuego (Sunfire Blue Chip)
• Francent N (Vincent)
• Grit N Grace (Im The Pied Piper)
• Louies Girl N (Lord Forbes)
• Rodeo Drive Deo (Captaintreacherous)
• Talk Curdy To Me (Betterthancheddar)
• Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe)
• Unreasonable (Huntsville)

Seven of these mares will race in a $50,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace this Saturday.

The wagering menu for Saturday’s stakes-filled card will include a Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout and a Woodbine Stakes $5 Pick-3.

The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover currently sits at $228,901.75. The wager will be offered on this Friday’s card ahead of the mandatory payout on Saturday night. The Hi-5 carries a 20-cent minimum.

The Woodbine Stakes $5 Pick-3 is a $5 minimum multi-leg wager and will consist of the Canadian Pacing Derby elimination in race five, the Peaceful Way in race seven and the William Wellwood Memorial in race nine.

The $75,000 Early Pick-5 will launch Saturday’s card in race one.

Post time for Friday’s card is 6:30 p.m., while Saturday’s card will have a start time of 6:45 p.m.

To view the complete Friday and Saturday harness racing entries, click here.

To view Friday’s program proof, click here. To view Saturday’s program proof, click here.

From Standardbred Canada