North American News - Juvenile trotters ready for Mohawk showdown

Some of North America’s most exciting two-year-old trotters will take centre stage at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night when the $570,000 William Wellwood Memorial and $425,000 Peaceful Way Stakes headline a huge Grand Circuit harness racing programme.

Both Grade 1 finals have attracted deep fields after last weekend’s eliminations, with Marcus Melander holding a particularly strong hand in both races.

Detonater Hanover, Gios Hope clash in Wellwood

The William Wellwood brings together elimination winners Detonater Hanover and Gios Hope, who have lost just twice between them through their first nine career starts.

Detonater Hanover produced the faster qualifying performance, stopping the clock in a career-best 1:52.3 for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and driver Tyler Moore.

The Muscle Mass colt has won three of his five starts and landed barrier two for Saturday’s final.

Gios Hope was equally professional in his elimination. Dexter Dunn moved the Chapter Seven colt to the lead during the second quarter before he went on to score in 1:54.2.

The Marcus Melander-trained youngster has now won three of four career starts and will begin from barrier three.

Melander’s challenge doesn’t end there.

He also starts Top Reacher, who was beaten less than half a length by Detonater Hanover, and Free Scottie, who finished second behind Gios Hope.

That gives Melander three chances to add another William Wellwood to his record.

But there is considerable depth beyond the elimination winners, with Ocean Storm, Access Now, Data Breach, Kountry Cantab, Yankee Boss and The Italian Job completing a strong ten-horse field.

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

 

Athenas Girl heads Peaceful Way charge

Melander could also have a major say in the $425,000 Peaceful Way, where Athenas Girl shapes as one of the leading contenders.

The Walner filly produced one of the eye catching performances of the eliminations, powering home in :26.4 to win in 1:54 with Dexter Dunn.

She will start from barrier six in Saturday’s final.

Melander also sends out Loves Passion, who was narrowly beaten in the other elimination.

That heat went to Dataprivacy, who produced a strong finish for Bob McClure and trainer Luc Blais to score in 1:54.4.

Dataprivacy has drawn barrier five, immediately inside Athenas Girl, setting up an intriguing tactical battle between two of the major chances.

The depth continues with Nevis Peak, Creamy Armitage, City Of Light, Verily, Beauts Cabaret, Elusive Station and Major Contender all earning their places in the Grade 1 final.

There is also a strong Walner influence on the race, with four of the ten finalists ,Nevis Peak, Loves Passion, Creamy Armitage and Athenas Girl all daughters of the star stallion.

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

 

A big five weeks begins

The Wellwood and Peaceful Way launch a major stretch of Grand Circuit racing at Mohawk, with nine Grade 1 finals scheduled between August 29 and September 26.

Saturday’s programme also includes the Grade 3 Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation Stakes along with eliminations for the Canadian Pacing Derby, while the Maple Leaf Trot eliminations feature on Friday night.

 

by Bevan Greig for Harnesslink