by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — A solid field of ten will do battle in the C$58,100 Summertime Pacing Series Final for 3-year-old colts and geldings this Saturday night (July 12) at Mohawk Racetrack.

For the second straight year, trainer Tim Pinske will be well represented by multiple starters. The veteran conditioner sends out Todd J H Hanover and Arts Country as a betting entry and they will start from posts seven and 10, respectively, as a 5-1 morning line proposition.

In last year’s edition of the Summertime, Pinske sent out a strong entry in the final, but could only manage a third-place finish with Sandro Hanover behind eventual winner Priceless Edition who will, ironically, compete on this Saturday’s undercard in the C$47,000 Open Pace.

The 3-1 choice in the Summertime Final is Windsun Thunder who will be driven by Roger Mayotte for trainer Bruce MacDonald. The son of Cam’s Card Shark-Armbro Magnify was victorious in the first leg in 1:54.3, but had to settle for second last week after making a break in stride right at the start.

“He actually threw a shoe before the race, so I had to take him back into the paddock to get it repaired,” explained Mayotte. “Then when I took him back out and went to go behind the gate, all the horses were coming at him and I turned him before they got to him. They all went by him and it just startled him a bit and he wouldn’t swing onto the pace after that.

“Once he finally landed on the pace, he got into the race going to the first turn. I just thought he was too far back at that point, but he made a huge recovery. I had some other options going into the series, but once this guy won the first leg he was my choice to stick with.”

Windsun Thunder wears saddle pad number three on Saturday but will start from post position two.

Four other preliminary round winners will be in the field including Smile Fromeartoear, Little Thief, Space Walk and Sams Dragon. Rounding out the group will be Immachulate, Docs Watson and Fissato.

In Saturday’s Open Pace, Secrets Nephew will look to extend his win streak to three as he sits less than C$35,000 away from C$1 million in career earnings. Co-owner and driver Lyle MacArthur will once again be sitting up behind the 6-year-old son of Camluck-Table For Eight from post five in the compact six-horse field.

Also in the field will be the aforementioned Priceless Edition along with Justice Cam, Soul Chaser, Little Amos and Bigtime Ball.

Post time for the 13-race program is 7:30 p.m.