Resolve victorious in epic Maple Leaf Trot
September 18, 2016,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — Resolve turned in a game effort to come away with 1:51.4 victory in the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. The 5-year-old stallion went toe-to-toe with the outstanding mare Hannelore Hanover for the final half-mile and ultimately wore down the powerhouse to score a 1-1/2 victory for Swedish native and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.
New Image Media photo
Resolve bests Hannelore Hanover and Shake It Cerry to capture the Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening.
Resolve, who finished second in last year’s Maple Leaf Trot, left from the rail and got away third, while Hannelore Hanover released Musical Rhythm to the lead at the opening quarter-mile in :26.4. Driver Yannick Gingras wasted little time circling Hannelore Hanover back to the front in the second quarter-mile and the trotting mare led the field by the half in :55.3.
Svanstedt started up Resolve nearing that juncture and immediately confronted the leader moving into the final turn. Hannelore Hanover and Resolve dueled to three-quarters in 1:23 and continued their battle into the lane. The Svanstedt trainee had no quit and finally edged by the gutsy mare in deep stretch for the win.
“He’s a really great horse and it was difficult today,” said Svanstedt following Resolve’s triumph. “He (left) very fast and then he was first-over the second half, so he did a very good job.”
A son of Muscle Hill, Resolve was last year’s O’Brien Award winner for top older trotter in Canada. He is well-traveled this season, as he raced in Sweden’s biggest race, the Elitlopp, back in May and was second.
Owned by Hans Enggren of Abbottstown, Pa., Resolve now has 14 career victories and over $1.7 million earned. The 5-year-old stallion scored his fourth victory of the season Saturday to bring his seasonal earnings to over C$700,000.
Hannelore Hanover, a 4-year-old mare, was a $45,000 supplemental entry to the Maple Leaf Trot. The Ron Burke trainee entered Saturday’s rich final off an impressive elimination victory and had only one loss in 15 prior starts this season.
“She raced very good,” acknowledged Svanstedt. “She’s just a 4-year-old and a mare. She’s very good.”
Saturday’s clash was the first meeting between Resolve and Hannelore Hanover. Although there is no upcoming meeting scheduled between the two star trotters, racing fans will certainly be hoping to see a rematch sooner rather than later.
Svanstedt noted that he isn’t sure what is next for Resolve, but has an idea of where he hopes to race.
“We hope he’ll be invited to the International Trot (at Yonkers Raceway),” he said.
The 5-year-old mare Shake It Cerry finished third in Saturday’s event, while locally trained trotters Flanagan Memory and Lookslikeachpndale rounded out the top five finishers. Swedish trotter Nahar, who is owned by Daniel and Henrik Sedin of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, broke stride on the final turn and finished 10th.
The wagering public was split between Resolve and Hannelore Hanover, as they went off as even-money co-favorites. Resolve returned $4.30, $2.50 and $2.20, while the $2 exacta paid $8.40.
- Mohawk stakes finals in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
Grand Circuit action at Mohawk will be held on Saturday with the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters, the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old male trotters, the C$436,000 Elegantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters, the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters, the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final for 2-year-old filly trotters, and two C$35,000 eliminations in the Milton Stake for older pacing mares.
- C$2.6 million Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card set (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
All eyes will be on harness racing’s finest trotters Saturday evening (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack for Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic night. An outstanding card featuring the best trotters of all ages has been assembled with more than C$2.6 million in purse money on the line.
- Burke seeks Wellwood trifecta with What The Hill (Wednesday, September 14, 2016)
Trainer Ron Burke will try to win the William Wellwood Memorial for the third consecutive year, and while this season’s contender What The Hill might not enter Saturday’s race with the same buildup as 2015 champion Southwind Frank, the colt has shown he possesses one extremely coveted talent — the desire to get to the finish line first.
- Magic Presto evokes memories of Bee A Magician in pursuit of Peaceful Way title (Thursday, September 15, 2016)
Everyone in this business longs for that horse; the one that is a world champion, a Horse of the Year and charts the course of history so their name is forever distinguished, remembered and revered. Although Magic Presto has only just begun her career, the inspiration behind her purchase was the premonition that lightning may be captured in a bottle, not once, but twice and that she could follow in the hoofprints of another filly that first served notice of her superiority with a victory in the 2012 Peaceful Way — Bee A Magician.
- Sedin twins hooked on harness racing (Friday, September 16, 2016)
Known for putting up big points with the Vancouver Canucks, Daniel and Henrik Sedin are also quite familiar with scoring on the racetrack. On Saturday evening (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack, the Sedin twins hope to win Canada’s biggest trotting event, the Maple Leaf Trot, with their superstar horse Nahar.
- Ariana G strolls in Peaceful Way (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Securing the lead after the half-mile, Ariana G advanced towards a 1:54 victory in the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final on Saturday night (Sept.17) at Mohawk Racetrack.
- Seven And Seven captures Wellwood Memorial (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Seven And Seven lunged off cover and down the center of the track to take the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial final in 1:55.3 Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
- Bar Hopping gives Takter third consecutive Trotting Classic (Saturday, September 17, 2016)
Bar Hopping charged home to win the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic by 3-1/2 lengths Saturday night (Sept. 17) at Mohawk Racetrack. Trained by Jimmy Takter, the colt was able to convert off a perfect second-over steer by Tim Tetrick to win Canada’s biggest race for 3-year-old trotters and provide Takter with his third straight victory in the contest.