Stage set for Canadian Pacing Derby, Maple Leaf Trot
August 28, 2018,by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine communications
Milton, ON — The C$651,000 Maple Leaf Trot and C$600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby will be the co-main events for this Saturday’s (Sept. 1) C$1.7 million card at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The rich events are joined by the C$191,200 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings and the C$169,183 Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old trotters to make up the stakes portion of a 13-race card.
Linscott Photography
The venerable Lazarus N, shown winning the Dan Patch Stakes makes his Canadian debut in Saturday’s Canadian Pacing Derby.
The C$600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby will feature the Canadian debut of Lazarus N.
“The Wonder from Down Under” has drawn post two in the 10-horse field and enters off a stunning victory in his North American debut on Aug. 10 at Hoosier Park.
Lazarus N was driven aggressively by Yannick Gingras from an outside post in his U.S. debut, powering on the front to a 1:48.4 victory. The inside starting spot allows Gingras to have more options and he is considering them all heading into the Canadian Pacing Derby.
“I think (Lazarus) loves to chase horses down,” said Gingras to Sky Sports Radio earlier this week. “I don’t have nothing against maybe somehow work a second-over or even come first-over with him if the fractions are hot at the front, I’m not against that.
“This is a new race and there will be a different strategy.”
Lazarus N is trained by Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter for Taylor Made Stallions, who purchased the Down Under champion earlier this year. The son of Bettor’s Delight has won 36 of 46 starts and accumulated $2.8 million in earnings.
The Canadian Pacing Derby did not require eliminations with 10 horses entering, forcing Takter to change his plans and train Lazarus at his farm in New Jersey.
“I stretched him out a little bit 1:51.3 mile here at my farm last Wednesday (Aug. 22),” said Takter on Tuesday. “He felt really nice and I was very happy with how he felt and couldn’t be happier.”
Seven-year-old McWicked is pegged as Lazarus N’s biggest challenger and will start one spot over in post three for driver David Miller and trainer Casie Coleman.
A triple millionaire, McWicked finished a hard-closing third on Aug. 10 at Hoosier and joins Lazarus N as the horses off the longest going into the Pacing Derby.
The Coleman trainee has won six of 10 starts this season and is a 28-time winner during his career.
The Canadian Pacing Derby field also includes Split The House (post one, Brett Miller), last year’s Breeders Crown champion, Sintra (post eight, Jody Jamieson), last year’s Pacing Derby champion, and three starters from the Ron Burke barn.
Rockin Ron (post four, Louis-Philippe Roy), Filibuster Hanover (post five, Tim Tetrick) and All Bets Off (post six, Matt Kakaley) make up the three-headed monster for harness racing’s leading trainer.
The C$600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby has been carded as race eight and is set for a 9:45 p.m. post time. A special half-hour broadcast of the Canadian Pacing Derby will air on TSN GO from 9:30-10 p.m.
The C$651,000 Maple Leaf Trot features one of the deepest fields in recent history.
The 10-horse field for the Maple Leaf Trot consists of five winners of more than $2 million in career earnings and six winners of more than $1 million.
Defending champion Hannelore Hanover (post seven, Gingras) will be looking to bounce back from a third-place finish in her elimination to try and retain her crown. The Burke-trained 6-year-old mare is on a three-race losing streak heading into the final.
Ariana G (post four, David Miller) offers trainer Takter a legitimate chance at a sweep of Saturday’s co-main events, as the 4-year-old mare teamed up with driver David Miller for the first time last weekend to win her elimination in 1:52.4.
A world champion at three, Ariana G has earned $2.2 million during her career and has won seven of eight career starts at Mohawk Park.
New Image Media photo
Marion Marauder, 2016 Trotting Triple Crown winner, is among the leading contenders in the Maple Leaf Trot.
Marion Marauder (post three, Scott Zeron), the 2016 Trotting Triple Crown champion, is riding plenty of momentum into the final. The 5-year-old won his elimination in 1:53.1 and boasts over $2.8 million in career earnings.
Trained by Mike Keeling and Paula Wellwood, Marion Marauder has won five of eight starts this season and will enter Saturday’s contest having won four of his last five.
“He’s just fun to race and fun to watch,” said Keeling following last Saturday’s elimination. “He doesn’t have a particular style; you just kind of watch and go ‘how does he get this done,’ but he and Scott (Zeron) just get along so well.
“It’s been a great ride and I hope we get to keep going.”
The Maple Leaf Trot has been carded as race 10 and is set for a 10:35 p.m. post time.
Saturday’s card also features the C$169,183 Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old trotters, carded as race five. The Grand Circuit event has attracted a field of 11 and all starters are eligible to the Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations on Sept. 8.
The C$191,200 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings will feature two divisions Saturday, which have been carded as races three and nine.
Post time for Saturday’s C$1.7 million card is 7:10 p.m.
Fans attending Saturday’s races will receive a special Lazarus N poster to commemorate his visit to Woodbine Mohawk Park. Several of the posters will have a special marking for the lucky poster-holders to have it signed by the connections of “The Wonder from Down Under.” Lazarus N rally towels will also be distributed during the evening.
The great entertainment for fans on Saturday will not be limited to the 13 races contested.
The Canadian Cowgirls drill team, consisting of 28 women and 28 horses, will perform following the third race in front of the grandstand. Canadian country recording artist Elyse Saunders will sing the Canadian national anthem prior to the first race. She will also be performing for fans in between races until 11 p.m.
For more information about Saturday’s Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot, visit www.woodbinemohawkpark.com.
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