from WEG media

Campbellville, ON — The 63rd edition of the Maple Leaf Trot has attracted 12 of the world’s finest trotters, who will compete in two C$40,000 six horse eliminations, this Friday night (July 11) at Mohawk.

Headlining the group of 12 is the world’s fastest trotter and the talk of the harness racing world, Sebastian K and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt. Sebastian K has drawn post six in the first elimination carded as race two and will be making his Canadian debut fresh off setting the trotting world record of 1:49 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on June 28.

Sebastian K came to North America this year, when Svanstedt relocated to North America after being one of the top horsemen in Sweden for years. Sebastian K quickly made his presence known when he equaled a world record in his first start at the Meadowlands on May 10. The 8-year-old enters the Maple Leaf Trot elimination a perfect four-for-four, having won all his races in 1:50.3 or better.

While most of the attention will be on the world champion, a couple of local 4-year-old trotters will look to take their best stab at the ‘Scandinavian Powerhouse.’

Wheeling N Dealin will leave from post one for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Luc Blais, while Flanagan Memory has been assigned post five with regular pilot Chris Christoforou in the sulky for trainer Rene Dion.

Both 4-year-old trotters are past O’Brien Award winners and come into their Maple Leaf Trot elimination after competing in the 1-1/8th mile Hambletonian Maturity at the Meadowlands last Saturday. Flanagan Memory finished third, one spot ahead of Wheeling N Dealin.

Rounding out the first elimination, Creatine will start from post two for Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance and trotting conditioner Bob Stewart, while posts three and four will be occupied by the Ron Burke duo of Wishing Stone and Archangel.

Race eight will be the second elimination and will feature a showdown between 2012 Maple Leaf Trot champion Mister Herbie and 2013 champion Market Share.

The Jeff Gillis trainee Mister Herbie was last year’s O’Brien Award winner for older trotter, but came up just short of capturing back-to-back Maple Leaf Trots when he finished second to Market Share in last year’s edition.

This season, Mister Herbie has made only two starts, both second place finishes in the Preferred event at Mohawk, and will leave from post five with Hall of Famer Steve Condren in the bike.

Market Share captured last year’s Maple Leaf Trot by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.1, the second fastest Maple Leaf Trot behind only Mister Herbie’s stakes record clocking of 1:50.4 in 2012.

Last season, Market Share also captured a Breeders Crown title, en route to winning the Dan Patch Award as the United States’ top older trotter. This season, Market Share has won twice in six starts for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Linda Toscano. He will start from post two on Friday night.

The second elimination also includes conditioner Luc Blais’ second entrant, Intimidate, from post position one with driver Sylvain Filion. Trainer Daryl Bier’s speedy trotter Modern Family will start from post three with Dave Palone, North American harness racing’s all-time winning driver.

Completing the field is Ron Burke’s third hopeful, DW’s NY Yank from post four, and the Tony O’Sullivan trainee, Undercover Strike from post six with the newest harness racing Hall of Fame member David Miller listed to drive.

The top five finishers from the two eliminations will advance to the C$550,000 (est.) final on Saturday (July 19) at Mohawk. The elimination winners will also be able to select their post position for the final.

Here are the full fields for the Maple Leaf Trot eliminations.

Race 3–Maple Leaf Trot 1st Elimination–Purse C$40,000
Post Position/Horse/Driver/Trainer
1. Wheeling N Dealin–Sylvain Filion–Luc Blais
2. Creatine-Mike Lachance–Bob Stewart
3. Wishing Stone–TBA–Ron Burke
4. Archangel-TBA–Ron Burke
5. Flanagan Memory–Chris Christoforou–Rene Dion
6. Sebastian K–Ake Svanstedt–Ake Svanstedt

Race 8–Maple Leaf Trot 2nd Elimination–Purse C$40,000
1. Intimidate–Sylvain Filion–Luc Blais
2. Market Share–Tim Tetrick–Linda Toscano
3. Modern Family–Dave Palone–Daryl Bier
4. DW’s NY Yank–TBA–Ron Burke
5. Mister Herbie–Steve Condren–Jeff Gillis
6. Undercover Strike–David Miller–Tony O’Sullivan