North American News - Big weekend of stakes racing ahead

Some of North America’s best pacers and trotters converge on Woodbine Mohawk Park this weekend, with the $705,000 Canadian Pacing Derby and $255,000 Milton Stakes among the highlights of a huge Saturday night card.

Canadian Pacing Derby

The Canadian Pacing Derby shapes as a wide-open affair after Prince Hal Hanover and For Once Inmy Life captured last weekend’s eliminations.

Prince Hal Hanover (Captaintreacherous) has drawn barrier six after fighting off Ervin Hanover to win his elimination in 1:48. The Dr Ian Moore-trained four-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, winning five of 13 starts and finishing in the top three every time. Todd McCarthy retains the drive.

For Once Inmy Life (Downbytheseaside) was even quicker in his elimination, running down Best Chip to score in 1:47. He has drawn five for Jordan Stratton, while Best Chip starts immediately inside him from four.

New Zealand interest centres on Dexter Dunn, who drives last season’s divisional champion Ervin Hanover from barrier nine. Ervin Hanover was beaten only a head in last year’s Canadian Pacing Derby and went down by the same margin when third in his elimination.

$705,000 Canadian Pacing Derby (Grade 1)
Post – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1. Women Layer (Sweet Lou) – Doug McNair- Virgil Morgan Jr.
2. Lou Hill – Yannick Gingras (Sweet Lou) – Petter Engblom
3. Oakwood Ardan Ir (Sweet Lou) – James MacDonald – Robert Cleary
4. Best Chip  (Heston Blue Chip) – Tim Tetrick – Joe Bongiorno
5. For Once Inmy Life (Downbytheseaside) – Jordan Stratton – Cory Stratton
6. Prince Hal Hanover (Captaintreacherous) – Todd McCarthy – Dr. Ian Moore
7. Ayeaye Captain Deo (Captaintreacherous) – Mark MacDonald – Garry Merner
8. Crack Shot (Bettor’s Delight) – Doug McNair – Gregg McNair
9. Ervin Hanover (Captaintreacherous) – Dexter Dunn – Dave Menary
10. Coaches Corner (Always A Virgin) – Jason Bartlett – Petter Engblom
AE. Clever Cody (The Panderosa) – Louis-Philippe Roy –  Francois Lecomte

Super Chapter Heads Maple Leaf Trot

The $620,000 Grade 1 Maple Leaf Trot brings together a high-class international field, headed by the exciting Super Chapter.

The four-year-old equalled the Canadian record with a brilliant 1:49.4 elimination victory and enters the final having won four of six starts this season, with his only defeats coming by a neck in the Graduate Series Final and Hambletonian Maturity.

Dexter Dunn is listed to drive the Marcus Melander-trained star from barrier two.

French Wine produced an eye-catching performance to win the other elimination, coming from last to score in 1:50.3. The defending Breeders Crown champion starts from barrier six for trainer Nancy Takter and driver Jason Bartlett.

There is plenty of depth behind them, including Emoticon Legacy, Lexus Kody, Go Dog Go, Private Access, Up Your Deo, Yo Tillie and European visitor Antognoni S.

$620,000 Maple Leaf Trot (Grade 1)
Post – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1. Aetos Kronos S (Bold Eagle) – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
2. Super Chapter (Chapter Seven) – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander
3. Emoticon Legacy (Walner) – Bob McClure – Luc Blais
4. Lexus Kody (Archangel) – Tim Tetrick – Ron Burke
5. Go Dog Go (Greenshoe) – Scott Zeron – Carter Pinske
6. French Wine (Bar Hopping) – Jason Bartlett – Nancy Takter
7. Private Access (Muscle Hill) – James MacDonald – Luc Blais
8. Up Your Deo (Walner) – Todd McCarthy – Ake Svanstedt
9. Yo Tillie (Tactical Landing) – Todd McCarthy – Andrew Harris
10. Antognoni S (Father Patrick) – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
AE. Osceola (Muscle Mass) – Doug McNair – Gregg McNair

 

Francent N Takes On Twin B Joe Fresh In Milton

There will be plenty of Australasian interest in the Milton Stakes, where New Zealand-bred mare Francent N gets her first major stakes test since arriving in North America.

The former Kiwi has quickly established herself among the continent’s leading mares, winning three straight. Her latest performance was particularly impressive, sweeping past champion Twin B Joe Fresh to win the Mohawk Fillies & Mares Open in 1:48.1. Francent N starts from barrier six with Louis-Philippe Roy driving for trainer Jacques Dupont.

Standing in her way is two-time defending Milton champion Twin B Joe Fresh, who has drawn barrier nine for Dexter Dunn. The Chris Ryder-trained star has already won the Dorothy Haughton Memorial and Clara Barton this season and will be looking for an unprecedented third consecutive Milton victory.

Rodeo Drive Deo, who chased Francent N home last weekend, adds further depth to what promises to be one of the most intriguing clashes on the Mohawk card.

$255,000 Milton Stakes (Grade 2)
Post – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1. Unreasonable  (Huntsville) – Todd McCarthy – Andrew Harris
2. Absolution (McWicked) – Trevor Henry – Jack Moiseyev
3. Louies Girl N (Lord Forbes) – Jason Bartlett – Petter Engblom
4. Cold Creek Fuego  (Sunfire Blue Chip) – Louis-Philippe Roy – Daniel Walker
5. Grit N Grace (Im The Pied Piper) – Travis Henry – Mike Kwietniowski
6. Francent N (Vincent) – Louis-Philippe Roy – Jacques Dupont
7. Talk Curdy To Me (Betterthancheddar) – James MacDonald – Dave Menary
8. Rodeo Drive Deo (Captaintreacherous) – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
9. Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) – Dexter Dunn – Chris Ryder

$2.8 Million Pennsylvania Championship Weekend

Pennsylvania also hosts a massive weekend of Sire Stakes action, with Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday and Pocono Downs on Monday each staging $1.4 million cards.

Philly hosts the three-year-old championships on Sunday, with four $300,000 finals featuring the likes of Carve, Miss Jum Jabber, Minoan and Adios winner Al Papi.

The highlight at Pocono on Monday could be one of the races of the season, with unbeaten two-year-old pacing colts Shalom Hanover and Starstruck Dreamer putting their perfect five-from-five records on the line. Shalom Hanover has drawn the pole, while Starstruck Dreamer — who paced a record-breaking 1:48.4 at Philadelphia — faces the difficult outside barrier eight.

 

by Bevan Greig for Harnesslink