Ken Weingartner

Hightstown, NJ — At this time last year, Todd McCarthy was in his first week of racing in North America.

On Saturday, he heads to Woodbine Mohawk Park for the first time to drive Canadian Pacing Derby morning-line favorite Allywag Hanover.

In between, it’s been a heck of a good time.

McCarthy entered Friday with $4.45 million in purses this year, good for ninth place among all drivers in North America. In the past two months alone, he has won five Grand Circuit stakes worth at least $140,000 and equaled a world record behind Allywag Hanover.

Todd McCarthy entered Friday with $4.45 million in purses this year, good for ninth place among all drivers in North America. USTA/Ken Weingartner photo.

Last year, he finished the season as the regular driver of Dan Patch Award winner Anoka Hanover, who gave McCarthy seven of his eight Grand Circuit triumphs in 2020.

Overall, the 28-year-old Australia native has won 359 races and $6.18 million during his 372-day career in North America.

“When I came, I just hoped I could put in the odd drives for a while and make a living out of it and see how it went,” McCarthy said. “This year has been beyond my expectations. I’ve got a lot of trainers and owners that have supported me from the get-go to thank for that. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do it. It’s very overwhelming. It’s just been phenomenal, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”

McCarthy will look to keep the good times going Saturday at Mohawk. In addition to driving Allywag Hanover in the C$590,000 Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers, he will pilot Peaky Sneaky in the C$316,000 Roses Are Red for older female pacers and Notorious Pink in an elimination of the Fan Hanover.

Todd McCarthy heads to Woodbine Mohawk Park for the first time to drive Canadian Pacing Derby morning-line favorite Allywag Hanover. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

The Brett Pelling-trained Allywag Hanover enters the Canadian Pacing Derby a neck from being undefeated in his past four races. The 4-year-old’s victories came in the William R. Haughton Memorial, a division of the Sam McKee Memorial, and the Always B Miki Invitational, where he equaled the world record of 1:47.2 for a gelding pacer on a five-eighths-mile track. His 1:47.1 victory in the Haughton is tied for this season’s fastest mile.

“He’s in terrific form right now,” McCarthy said. “Brett has got him spot on. I couldn’t be happier with the way the horse is going into the race. He’s got such a good attitude. I love driving any horses that want to go forward, and he wants to do that. He wants to win.”

Catch The Fire, the winner of the Dan Patch Stakes and a division of the McKee in the past month, is the 3-1 second choice followed by This Is The Plan at 7-2.

In the Roses Are Red, 4-year-old Peaky Sneaky is winless in nine races this season but has three consecutive third-place Grand Circuit finishes with McCarthy. In her two most recent outings, she was third behind Lyons Sentinel and Rocknificent. Lyons Sentinel is the 2-1 favorite in the Roses Are Red; Rocknificent is the 7-2 second choice.

Peaky Sneaky, a 2020 Breeders Crown champion trained by Nancy Takter, is 8-1.

“I haven’t been able to knock off one of the big ones with her yet, but she is holding her form,” McCarthy said. “Nancy does a great job with her; she’s been super consistent. She’s one of those horses that needs to get a good trip, and if she’s thereabouts, she’s always handy. She is terrific to drive. It’s just an all-around good experience with her.”

Notorious Pink, trained by Tony Alagna, is the 3-1 second choice in the second of two Fan Hanover eliminations. Notorious Pink has two wins this season, which came in her two most recent starts, both in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series. She won the races by a combined total of nearly 17 lengths.

“Her last two miles have been really good,” McCarthy said. “She kind of lost her form a touch before that, but Tony sorted things out with her and has her back in really good form. Hopefully after those two good miles, she’s got a bit of confidence back. This looks to be a good spot for her.”

Fire Start Hanover, trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman, is the 6-5 favorite in the second Fan Hanover elimination. Alagna-trained Hot Mess Express, driven by McCarthy’s brother Andy, is the 8-5 favorite in the first. The top-five finishers from each elim will advance to next week’s final.

Saturday’s card at Mohawk also includes the C$536,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters as well as two eliminations for each the North America Cup for 3-year-old pacers and Goodtimes for 3-year-old trotters.

Racing begins at 7 p.m. (EDT) Saturday at Mohawk. For complete entries, click here.