by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — This year’s Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk received a big boost with news that foreign invaders Going Kronos and Equinox Bi have accepted invitations to compete.

The Maple Leaf Trot is the last leg of the World Cup Series before the World Cup Final which will be contested on September 30 at Vincennes Racecourse in Paris, France.

Going Kronos is one of Europe’s premier trotters and has won six of his 12 races this year for trainer-driver Lutfi Kolgjini. Lifetime, the 4-year-old son of Viking Kronos is a winner of 16 of 24 races and just under $750,000 in earnings.

The plan was to race the trotter at Mohawk in the Breeders Crown last weekend, but the connections decided to bypass that race and aim for the Maple Leaf Trot instead.

Equinox Bi was here for the Breeders Crown and ended up being placed first in the contest after Corleone Kosmos made a break just before the wire. Equinox Bi has already had two North American starts this season, the first coming in the Nat Ray on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands where he finished second to the aforementioned Corleone Kosmos.

Trevor Ritchie picked up the last-minute catch driver last weekend behind Equinox Bi and is expected to drive again this weekend.

The full draw for the Maple Leaf Trot eliminations will be held Tuesday morning (September 4) and starters must declare in by 10:30 a.m. If 14 or more horses enter then eliminations will be necessitated. If 11, 12 or 13 enter, byes will be given to the top money winners while the other 10 will compete in a single elimination to determine the other finalists.

The C$750,000 (est.) Maple Leaf Trot Final will be contested on Saturday, September 15, at Mohawk.