Heavyweight battles looming at Mohawk

Milton, ON – Record miles in eliminations for the Canadian Pacing Derby (G1) and Maple Leaf Trot (G1) have the stage set for this week’s marquee harness racing races at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The run of Grand Circuit action at the Campbellville oval continues with another “Super Saturday” program. The C$690,000 Canadian Pacing Derby and C$630,000 Maple Leaf Trot are joined by the Simcoe Stakes (3-Year-Old Trot and 3-Year-Old Filly Trot) on Saturday (Aug. 30).

Aetos Kronos S became the first trotter in Canadian harness racing history to break 1:50 when he won his Maple Leaf Trot elimination in 1:49.4. Dexter Dunn guided the Marcus Melander trained 9-year-old to the Canadian and track record mile.

Over on the pacing side, Bythemissal converted off a perfect two-hole trip to win his Canadian Pacing Derby elimination in a Canadian and track record-equaling time of 1:46.4 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke. The 6-year-old joins Dr J Hanover, Bulldog Hanover and Warrawee Vital as the fastest pacers in Canadian harness racing history.

The impressive elimination performances put both the Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Pacing Derby stakes records in jeopardy, as only the clocking in a stake final counts towards the event’s record time.

The Maple Leaf Trot stakes record is 1:50.2, which was established in 2023 by Alrajah One IT. The Canadian Pacing Derby record is 1:46.4, posted by Bulldog Hanover in 2022.

Outside of Saturday’s rich card, Friday evening’s (Aug. 29) program will see an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold leg held for 2-year-old pacing colts and 2-year-old pacing fillies. These events should bring in several starters from last Saturday’s (Aug. 23) Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation Stakes.

The entry box for this weekend’s cards at Woodbine Mohawk Park closes Tuesday morning (Aug. 26) at 10:30 a.m. To view the condition sheets, click here.

Here’s a full breakdown of this week’s stakes races:

Friday, August 29
OSS Gold – 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
OSS Gold – 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

Saturday, August 30
Canadian Pacing Derby (G1) – Open Pace
Maple Leaf Trot (G1) – Open Trot
Simcoe Stakes (G3) – 3-Year-Old Open Trot
Simcoe Stakes (G3) – 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

Post time for each night of live racing is 6:35 p.m.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications