Stage set for Mohawk Million this Saturday

MILTON, September 18, 2023 – The field is set for this Saturday’s (Sept. 23) $1 million Mohawk Million at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The fourth edition of the Mohawk Million features a field of 10 two-year-old trotters, including four fillies, and is the richest race on a $3.5 million-plus program. The prestigious $970,000 Metro Pace for two-year-old pacers follows closely behind the Million.

The post position draws for the Million and Metro were both conducted on Monday evening.

William Wellwood Memorial winner T C I (Cantab Hall) headlines the Million from post eight for trainer Ron Burke. The super rookie has won eight of nine starts and locked up his free spot in the Million by winning the Wellwood. David Miller will take his usual spot behind T C I.

The Burke stable will also be represented by Ohio Sires Stakes champion Tennessee Tom (Long Tom), who races in the slot of Greg Luther. Tennessee Tom has won five of eight starts and will team with driver Chris Page from post six.

Peaceful Way winner Drawn Impression (Muscle Hill) is one of two starters for Determination. The standout filly is three for three and will start from post five with driver Louis-Philippe Roy. The other Determination starter is filly Emoji Hanover (Greenshoe) from post ten with Bob McClure. ‘Emoji’ captured a division of the Champlain Stakes last Thursday.

Hunterton Farms and Partners, last year’s winning slot owners, have secured filly Allegiant (Tactical Landing) to race in their slot. The Vernon Beachy trainee is well-travelled this season, having won five of nine starts across Kentucky and New Jersey Sires Stakes. Allegiant goes from post three with driver Scott Zeron.

Gino Toscani purchased two slots in this year’s race and will send out Tactical Strike (Tactical Landing) from post one and Top Mast from post two. Tactical Strike is the fourth filly in the field and will be driven by Toscani, while Top Mast (Walner) comes in off a third-place finish in a Champlain division and will have the services of driver Travis Cullen. Both rookies are trained by Desiree Jones.

Local standout Griff (Muscle Mass) will race in the spot owned by Courant. The Murray Brethour trainee has two wins in four starts, including an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division. James MacDonald will drive Griff.

Anthony Lombardi has lined up the Julie Miller trained Show Me (Chapter Seven) to start from post seven. Show Me has the most recent victory in the field, having won the Kentucky Commonwealth final on Monday afternoon. Andy Miller will drive.

Ecurie CSL’s slot in the race will be used by the Marcus Melander trained Security Protected (Father Patrick). A multiple Pennsylvania Sires Stakes winner, Security Protected will be driven by Tim Tetrick from post nine.

Each slot in the Mohawk Million, except the slot reserved for the Wellwood Memorial winner, cost $100,000.

The race number for Saturday’s Mohawk Million will be determined on Tuesday when the full card is drawn.

Here is the full lineup for the Mohawk Million:

(Post/Horse/Driver/Trainer/Slot Owner)

1 – Tactical Strike (Tactical Landing, Gino Toscani/Desiree Jones/Gino Toscani)
​2 – Top Mast (Walner, Travis Cullen/Desiree Jones/Gino Toscani)
​3 – Allegiant (Tactical Landing, Scott Zeron/Vernon Beachy/Hunterton Farms & Partners)
​4 – Griff (Muscle Mass, James MacDonald/Murray Brethour/Courant)
​5 – Drawn Impression (Muscle Hill, Louis-Philippe Roy/Luc Blais/Determination)
​6 – Tennessee Tom (Long Tom, Chris Page/Ron Burke/Greg Luther)
​7 – Show Me (Chapter Seven, Andy Miller/Julie Miller/Anthony Lombardi)
​8 – ​ T C I (Cantab Hall, David Miller/Ron Burke/Wellwood Winner)
​9 – Security Protected (Father Patrick, Tim Tetrick/Marcus Melander/Ecurie CSL)
​10 – Emoji Hanover (Greenshoe, Bob McClure/Luc Blais/Determination)

The $970,000 Metro Pace for two-year-old pacers is the co-main event on Saturday’s rich program.

Elimination winners Legendary Hanover (Huntsville) and Clever Cody (The Panderosa) were guaranteed to land a starting spot anywhere from post two to six in Monday’s draw.

The undefeated Legendary Hanover drew post two for driver James MacDonald and trainer Tony Beaton. He was a wrapped up 1:51 winner in his elimination, improving to a perfect six for six.

Dr. Ian Moore trainee Clever Cody posted an impressive 1:50.4 victory in his elimination for driver Sylvain Filion. The Ohio Sires Stakes champion will start from post six in the Metro Final, searching for his seventh win in 10 starts.

Dr. Moore also sends out fourth-place finisher Storm Shadow from post five.

Captains Quarters (Captaintreacherous), who finished second to Clever Cody, will start from post seven for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Herb Holland. He rocketed home in :25.2 for the runner-up spot in his elimination.

Trainer Tony Alagna will send out a pair in the Metro Final. Captain Luke (Captaintreacherous), who was second to Legendary Hanover, has post four for driver Dexter Dunn, while Remember The Alamo (Captaintreacherous), fourth to Clever Cody, has post eight for Doug McNair.

The balance of the field includes Nick Gallucci’s Chain Gang (Bettors Delight, post one), Garry Merner’s Lous World (Sweet Lou, post three), Chris Ryder’s Gem Quality (Captain Crunch, post nine) and Luc Blais’ Calicojack Hanover (Captaintreacherous, post ten).

The $970,000 purse for this year’s Metro Pace is the highest since the race went for $1 million in 2012.

Here is the full lineup for the $970,000 Metro Pace:

(Post/Horse/Driver/Trainer)

1 – Chain Gang (Bettors Delight, Scott Zeron/Nick Gallucci)
​2 – Legendary Hanover (Huntsville, James MacDonald/Anthony Beaton)
​3 – Lous World (Sweet Lou, Todd McCarthy/Garry Merner)
​4 – Captain Luke (Captaintreacherous, Dexter Dunn/Tony Alagna)
​5 – Storm Shadow (Bettors Delight, Yannick Gingras/Dr. Ian Moore)
​6 – Clever Cody (The Panderosa, Sylvain Filion/Dr. Ian Moore)
​7 – Captains Quarters (Captaintreacherous, Jody Jamieson/Herb Holland)
​8 – Remember The Alamo (Captaintreacherous, Doug McNair/Tony Alagna)
​9 – Gem Quality (Captain Crunch, Dexter Dunn/Chris Ryder)
​10 – Calicojack Hanover (Captaintreacherous, Louis-Philippe Roy/Luc Blais)
​AE – Cupid Shuffle (Sweet Lou, David Miller/Daniel Lagace)

Saturday’s lucrative card also includes the $660,000 Canadian Trotting Classic, $540,000 Shes A Great Lady and $381,000 Elegantimage.

Post time for the $3.5 million-plus card is 7:10 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

For the latest information, visit Woodbine.com/Mohawk or follow @WoodbineSB and @WoodbineComms.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Entertainment Group