by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON —The pacing stars of today and tomorrow are set to clash at Mohawk Racetrack over the next two weekends for the Canadian Pacing Derby, Metro Pace and She’s A Great Lady.

The entry box for all three major events closed Tuesday morning (Aug. 23) with no eliminations required for the Canadian Pacing Derby, as 10 of the sport’s finest older pacers were entered and will go directly to the $616,000 final on Saturday (Sept. 3).

The Metro Pace and She’s A Great Lady stakes will need eliminations this Saturday (Aug. 28) to determine the finalists for Sept. 3.

A total of 25 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings were entered in the Metro for three $40,000 eliminations, while 15 rookie pacing fillies were dropped in the box for the She’s A Great Lady for two $35,000 eliminations.

The Canadian Pacing Derby is Canada’s oldest stakes race and the 2016 edition has attracted a field of superstars.

New Image Media photo

State Treasurer looks to defend his Canadian Pacing Derby title on Sept. 3.

State Treasurer, the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, is back to defend his ‘Pacing Derby’ crown against several of harness racing’s titans.

Always B Miki, last year’s Breeders Crown champion, will be returning to Mohawk for the first time since his 1:47.1 track-record performance in the Mohawk Gold Cup. The Jimmy Takter-trained 5-year-old has won six of 10 starts this season, including the Ben Franklin and William Haughton Memorial. The world champion is approaching double-millionaire status and holds a mark of 1:47.

Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 2015 U.S. Horse of the Year, will look to become the third 4-year-old to win the Canadian Pacing Derby in the last 10 years. Trained by Clyde Francis for George Teague, the son of Mr Wiggles has earned over $1 million this season to bring his career bankroll to over $3.3 million. Wiggle It Jiggleit has won 34 of 45 career starts and holds a mark of 1:47.2.

Shamballa will look to defend his home track for trainer Rick Zeron. The 6-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere captured the U.S. Pacing Championship earlier this month at The Meadowlands in a career-best 1:47.1. A local fan-favorite for his outstanding closing speed, Shamballa is a three-time winner this season and has hit the board in eight of 10 starts. The Zeron trainee finished second in last year’s ‘Pacing Derby’.

State Treasurer has recently found his best stride of the season after dealing with an injury. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee was scratched from an Aug. 6 start after he stepped on a nail, but has since returned and won two consecutive outings, including a 1:48.3 effort last Saturday at Mohawk. A winner of over $2 million, State Treasurer will be competing in his third consecutive Canadian Pacing Derby.

The 2016 ‘Pacing Derby’ field also includes double millionaire All Bets Off, last year’s Cane Pace winner Dealt A Winner, Molson Pace winner Evenin Of Pleasure, WEG Preferred standouts Nickle Bag and Nirvana Seelster and 2015 Empire Breeders champion Rockin In Heaven.

The post position draw for the Canadian Pacing Derby will take place Saturday evening.

The Metro Pace appears wide open heading into this Saturday’s three eliminations. The top three finishers from each elimination, plus a fourth-place finisher drawn by lot, will advance to the $661,000 final.

The first division features Ben Baillargeon trainee Rock This Way (post 4, Mario Baillargeon), who pulled off a 65-1 upset in a division of the Nassagaweya last Saturday. The son of 2005 Metro Pace winner Rocknroll Hanover stopped the clock in a national season’s best 1:51.3.

Calvin K (post 5, Jody Jamieson) has the highest earnings of the 25 rookies in this year’s Metro Pace, with $114,220 earned through seven career starts. The Ontario Sires Stakes standout was second in his Nassagaweya division for trainer Tony O’Sullivan.

Macs Jackpot, fresh off a win in a Nassagaweya division, will start from post 7 in the second Metro Pace elimination.

The second elimination features Macs Jackpot (post 7, Sylvain Filion), who won the other Nassagaweya division last Saturday. The son of Somebeachsomewhere recently joined the O’Sullivan barn after racing south of the border for Jim Campbell. The third foal out of $1.3 million winner Michelle’s Power, Macs Jackpot has won three of six starts for just under $80,000 in earnings.

The final elimination has several intriguing competitors; including Southwind General (post 7, Jody Jamieson), who is jumping from the OSS Grassroots to Grand Circuit competition in just his second start. The Jack Darling-trained son of Sportswriter was a $110,000 yearling purchase and won his debut by more than eight lengths.

Bettors Dream (post 8, Tim Tetrick) will also compete in the final elimination. The son of Bettors Delight won the Dream Maker Series final in convincing fashion, but suffered his first loss last Saturday in the Nassagaweya. The Scott McEneny trainee finished second after a front-end battle through an opening-half of :53.4.

The Metro Pace eliminations have been carded as races 3,4 and 8.

The She’s A Great Lady Stakes will have two eliminations with the top five finishers from each split advancing to the $427,000

Candlelight Dinner has won four in a row and is set to start from post 6 in the first She’s A Great Lady elimination.

Candlelight Dinner (post 6, David Miller) has been the talk of the town in recent weeks and the undefeated pacing filly will star in the first elimination. The Casie Coleman-trained daughter of American Ideal has won four in a row to begin her career, including victories in the Eternal Camnation and Whenuwishuponastar. Candlelight Dinner was a $110,000 yearling purchase.

The second elimination will see the Mohawk debut of Somebeachsomewhere filly Idyllic Beach (post 8, Yannick Gingras). The first foal out of $1.3 million winner Idyllic, Idyllic Beach has won three of four starts to begin her career. The Takter trainee has made each of her four starts in Pennsylvania.

The She’s A Great Lady eliminations have been carded as Races 2 and 6.

The post positions for the $661,000 Metro Pace and $427,000 She’s A Great Lady finals will be drawn following the eliminations on Saturday.

Post time for Saturday’s 11-race card is 7:30 p.m.

Below are the fields for the Metro Pace and She’s A Great Lady eliminations.

PP/Horse/Driver/Trainer

Metro Pace Elimination #1 (Race 3)

1. Bettors Western – David Miller – Rob Fellows
2. Odds On Delray – Tim Tetrick – Tony Alagna
3. The Wall – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter
4. Rock This Way – Mario Baillargeon – Ben Baillargeon
5. Calvin K – Jody Jamieson – Tony O’Sullivan
6. Windsong Napoleon – Jody Jamieson – Carl Jamieson
7. Pointomygranson – Sylvain Filion – Chris Ryder
8. Classic Pro – David Miller – Dr. Ian Moore

Metro Pace Elimination #2 (Race 4)

1. Bobcat Bound – Jody Jamieson – Carl Jamieson
2. Ocean Colony – Brett Miller – Jimmy Takter
3. Manceiver – Jody Jamieson – Howard Okusko Jr.
4. Darlings Dragon – Donald Dupont – Marie Dupont
5. Ideal Wheel – David Miller – Casie Coleman
6. Abbeydorney – Yannick Gingras – James Ciaran Morrison
7. Macs Jackpot – Sylvain Filion – Tony O’Sullivan
8. All It Takes – Doug McNair – Gregg McNair
9. Beach House – David Miller – Rich Gillock

Metro Pace Elimination #3 (Race 8)

1. Deadly Action – Randy Waples – Colin Johnson
2. Tuxedo Bay – Randy Waples – Mark Steacy
3. Blood Line – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter
4. Beyond Delight – Sylvain Filion – Tony O’Sullivan
5. R J P – David Miller – Erv Miller
6. Some Attitude – David Miller – Bob McIntosh
7. Southwind General – Jody Jamieson – Jack Darling
8. Bettors Dream – Tim Tetrick – Scott McEneny

She’s A Great Lady Elimination #1 (Race 2)

1. Happy Hannah – Randy Waples – Mark Steacy
2. World Apart – Tim Tetrick – Linda Toscano
3. Thats The Ticket – Sylvain Filion – Chris Ryder
4. Manhattan Play – Mike Saftic – Nicky Comegna
5. Blameitonthenight – Randy Waples – Tony Alagna
6. Candlelight Dinner – David Miller – Casie Coleman
7. Vintage Book – Yannick Gingras – Ron Adams

She’s A Great Lady Elimination #2 (Race 6)

1. Agent Q – David Miller – Aaron Lambert
2. Obvious Blue Chip – James MacDonald – Mark Steacy
3. Awash – Tim Tetrick – Tony Alagna
4. Fade – David Miller – Casie Coleman
5. Bid Writer – Tim Tetrick – Jeff Gillis
6. Out Of Sight – Jody Jamieson – Bob McIntosh
7. Everyones Watching – Sylvain Filion – Tony Alagna
8. Idyllic Beach – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter

Canadian Pacing Derby (Field listed in alphabetical order)

All Bets Off
Always B Miki
Dealt A Winner
Evenin Of Pleasure
Nickle Bag
Nirvana Seelster
Rockin In Heaven
Shamballa
State Treasurer
Wiggle It Jiggleit