by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Tom Cango likes the spotlight. If he continues his winning ways, it won’t be a worry.

A half brother to Broadway Hall, who was the undefeated 2002 2-year-old colt trotter of the year, Tom Cango is among the 10 finalists in Sunday’s C$514,100 William Wellwood Memorial at Mohawk Racetrack. Tom Cango, who is unbeaten in four lifetime starts, was joined by Federal Flex and Encore Encore, who is a son of Broadway Hall, in winning elimination races on September 7 to reach the final.

“Tom Cango is a bigger colt than what Broadway Hall was,” said trainer Jim Campbell, who also trained Broadway Hall. “They’re totally different. Broadway, a lot of the times you didn’t even know he was in the barn; he was just a quiet horse. Tom, if he sees someone else getting a little attention, he wants it for himself. He’s kind of a character. He’s got a real great personality to him. He likes to be the center of attention.”

New Image Media photo

Steve Condren steered Tom Cango to a 1:57.1 score in a William Wellwood Memorial elimination.

That’s not been a problem so far. Last month, Tom Cango won a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes event at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:57.1 for his third win of the year. In his Wellwood elim, he won by 1-1/4 lengths over Full Volume, again in 1:57.1.

Tom Cango, by Tom Ridge, is owned by Arlene and Jules Siegel, who also owned Broadway Hall. The Siegels bought Tom Cango’s dam, B Cor Tamgo, while she was in foal with the colt. B Cor Tamgo is a half sister to 1996 American-National champ and Nat Ray runner-up B Cor Pete as well as several past standouts on the Ontario circuit. Her half sister B Cor Jazzette produced millionaire Banker Hall.

Interestingly, perhaps even amazingly, B Cor Tamgo’s mother, B Cor Tamara, produced one of Tom Cango’s Wellwood rivals — Celebrity Legacy.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him so far,” Campbell said about Tom Cango. “I’ve been really happy with him. He’s very laid back on the track. He’s just a real nice horse to be around. I’m not a forecaster; we’re just taking it one race at a time.”

Among those joining Tom Cango in the Wellwood final are elim winners Federal Flex and Encore Encore.

Federal Flex, a son of Muscles Yankee out of stakes-winning mare Scully FBI, is unbeaten in four starts for the father-son driver-trainer combo Jody and Carl Jamieson while Encore Encore has won five of eight races for trainer Richard Gillock and owner Robert Key.

The remainder of the field is Full Volume, Russell Hill, Photoforwin, Celebrity Legacy, Pointe Of Honour, All Cantab, and Top Chef.