North American News - Million-dollar showdowns headline huge week

It’s a massive week of harness racing in North America, with two million dollar races taking centre stage and some of the sport’s brightest young stars preparing for their biggest assignments of the season.

Two million-dollar showdowns at Mohawk

Unbeaten Shalom Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover) will put his perfect seven-from-seven record on the line in Saturday night’s $1 million Metro Pace. The Dr. Ian Moore-trained colt has drawn barrier three, while fellow elimination winner Eastie Boy starts from six.

The complete draw for the Metro Pace is listed below.

$1 million Metro Pace (Grade 1)
Post – Horse – Driver – Trainer 
1. High Rise Hanover (Tall Dark Stranger)- J.R. Plante – Nick Comegna
2. Cattletracks (Cattlewash) – Scott Zeron – Dr. Ian Moore
3. Shalom Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover) – Louis-Philippe Roy – Dr. Ian Moore
4. Rose Run Cowboy (Huntsville) – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke
5. TH Theo (Cattlewash)- Doug McNair – Gregg McNair
6. Eastie Boy (Sweet Lou) – Ronnie Wrenn Jr. – Ron Burke
7. Vainqueur (Bulldog Hanover) – Dexter Dunn – Andrew Harris
8. Global Choice (Courtly Choice) – James MacDonald – Garry Merner
9. Big D Energy (Control The Moment) – Mark MacDonald  – Herb Holland
10. L A Captain (Captaintreacherous) – Bob McClure – Luc Blais

The $1 million Mohawk Million features Athenas Girl, who will attempt to give trainer Marcus Melander his third consecutive victory in the race. Dexter Dunn drives the Peaceful Way Stakes winner from barrier two, with Wellwood Memorial winner Ocean Storm and runner-up Access Now among her principal rivals.

The complete field for the Mohawk Million is listed below.

$1 million Mohawk Million (Grade 1)
Post – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer – Original Slot Owner – New Slot Owner
1. Dataprivacy (Muscle Hill) (filly) – Louis-Philippe Roy – Luc Blais – Paul Van Camp – Determination
2. Athenas Girl (Walner) (filly) – Dexter Dunn – Marcus Melander – Al Libfeld – Brad Grant
3. Detonater Hanover (Muscle Mass) – Tyler Moore – Dr. Ian Moore – Matt Bax – Dr. Ian Moore
4. Seven Pledges (Chapter Seven) – Joe Bongiorno – Andrew Harris – Bill Pollock – Bill Pollock
5. Wrong Sounds Right (Tactical Landing) – Todd McCarthy – Jim Campbell – Courant Inc. – Scott Farber
6. Kissme Ifyoucan (In Range) (filly) – Austin Hanners – Todd Luther – Andrew Harris – Prolific Equine
7. Nevis Peak (Walner) (filly) – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – Mark Weaver – Mark Weaver
8. D A Johnny Cash (Green Manalishi S) – Doug McNair – Chris Matthews – Celebrity Farms – Chris Matthews
9. Ocean Storm (Chapter Seven) – James MacDonald – Cameron Capone – Michael Venneri – Cameron Capone
10. Access Now (Walner)  – Bob McClure – Luc Blais – Dustin Jones – Determination

Saturday’s Mohawk programme also features the $510,000 Shes A Great Lady Stakes, $590,000 Canadian Trotting Classic and $400,000 Elegantimage Stakes, making it one of the biggest nights on the North American racing calendar.

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Little Brown Jug attracts star-studded field

The 81st Little Brown Jug takes place on Thursday, with Al Papi, Fragment, Melillo and Redland Rocket Man headlining a field of 11 three-year-old pacers chasing the $550,000 final.

Adios winner Al Papi has drawn barrier two in the opening elimination, while Fragment, Melillo and $45,000 supplemental entry Redland Rocket Man clash in the second. The first four home in each elimination will return for the final later the same day.

Following are the fields for the Little Brown Jug eliminations. The top four finishers from each elim will return for Thursday’s same-day final, which is race 19.

$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination One
Post – Horse (Driver/Trainer)
1. Frantic Hanover (Stay Hungry) (Tim Tetrick/Ron Burke)
2. Al Papi (Papi Rob Hanover) (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
3. Toast Of The Town (Sweet Lou) (Jason Bartlett/Noel Daley)
4. Thai Hanover (Stay Hungry) (Dexter Dunn/Mitchell York)
5. Treacherous Lou (Captaintreacherous) (Tim Tetrick/Robert Cleary)
6. No Waitlist (Cattlewash) (Doug McNair/Blake MacIntosh)

$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination Two
Post – Horse (Driver/Trainer)
1. Hunting Glory (American Ideal) (Ridge Warren/Robert Cleary)
2. Watch Em Win (He’s Watching) (Tim Tetrick/Ron Burke)
3. Fragment (Huntsville) (Jason Bartlett/Petter Engblom)
4. Melillo (Sweet Lou) (Ronnie Wrenn Jr./Ron Burke)
5. Redland Rocket Man (Bulldog Hanover) (Jody Jamieson/John Pentland)

 

by Bevan Greig for Harnesslink