by Kimberly A. Rinker, for Maywood Park

Melrose Park IL — Friday’s $180,000 Windy City Pace, one of Maywood Park’s pinnacle races, is a showcase event on an evening sprinkled with star-studded Standardbreds that have journeyed to Chicago’s in-town, half-miler from throughout North America.

The pacer that’s traveled the farthest to compete Friday night is Kentucky Sire Stakes champion On Golden Ponder. Ontario-based Robert McIntosh, 62, will harness the son of Ponder for just his eighth start this season. The bay 3-year-old, who was foaled May 28, 2011, in Lucan, Ontario, has a trio of wins this year and $120,664 in seasonal earnings.

Nigel Soult photo

On Golden Ponder has banked $195,629 in his career.

On Golden Ponder got a late start this season due to an injury sustained during the winter months, and the tenacious McIntosh gave his youngster plenty of time to recuperate. The colt earned $74,965 as a 2-year-old from nine starts with four wins and one second, and holds the record for the fastest 2-year-old ever on a half-mile track, having posted a winning 1:52.2 world record clocking in the 2013 edition of the $52,544 Standardbred at Delaware, drawing off by 6-1/2 lengths with Hall of Famer John Campbell at the lines.

On Golden Ponder has triumphed in a pair of $15,000 legs and the $175,000 final of the Kentucky Sire Stakes at Lexington this year on Aug. 10 (in 1:57.2); Aug. 24 (in 1:54.3); and Aug. 31 (in 1:59.2).

On Golden Ponder is owned by the McIntosh Stables, Inc., C S X Stables and Michael Kohler. He was bred by McIntosh and C S X Stables and is the third foal out of the Intrepid Seelster mare In Trepid Water p,3,1:51.3s ($410,748), with a pair of half-siblings: Great Waters p,2,1:55.1f ($33,281) and Cool Like That p,3,1:52h ($106,844) — both by The Panderosa.

McIntosh has conditioned 3,299 winners to $81,854,034 in career earnings and was inducted into the Canadian Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2010. He also trained both of On Golden Ponder’s parents. In Trepid Water was a top mare on the Ontario Sire Stake circuit as a 3-year-old and Ponder p,5,1:48.1 ($1,522,936), when he retired, was the fastest and richest son of The Panderosa.

Also hailing from our neighbors to the north is Three Of Clubs, the Ontario Sire Stake champion who’ll be harnessed by trainer Gregg McNair, who co-owns the Mach Three son with fellow Canadians Keith Waples and Tony Lawrence.

Three Of Clubs comes here fresh off a career best 1:51.1 victory in the $225,500 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final at Mohawk on Oct. 11. He has scored four OSS wins the past two seasons and also captured the $12,125 elimination and the $138,720 Battle of Waterloo at Grand River Raceway as a freshman.

Three Of Clubs was a $25,000 yearling purchase at the 2011 Forest City Sale and is the first foal out of his dam, the Precious Bunny mare CC Kloe p,3,1:57f ($24,076). Lifetime, he’s amassed six wins, three seconds and five thirds from 23 starts, with a bankroll of $432,181.

The Jimmy Tatker trained Somewhere In L A, who has been a major player on the Pennsylvania Sire Stake circuit this season, is the richest contender ($516,643) in the field of eight. The son of Somebeachsomewhere finished second in last week’s American- National at Balmoral to JK Endofanera, and two weeks prior won the $41,700 Keystone Classic at The Meadows in 1:51.2. This 3-year-old won a $50,000 Adios elim, the $55,016 Diplomat final (at Woodbine) and was second in the $400,000 Adios final this season. He is owned by J&T Silva Stables, Deo Volente Farms and TLP Stable.

Big Boy Dreams, trained by Ronnie Burke, has been racing in his home state of New York for most of the season, with wins at Saratoga and Batavia. He also captured the American-National consolation at Balmoral last Saturday in a wire-to-wire, career best 1:50.1 performance for Yannick Gingras.

Owned by Dominic Rosato, Big Boy Dreams won multiple New York Sire Stake tests at two and to date has eight wins, three seconds and six thirds in 19 lifetime starts. A $9,000 yearling at the Morrisville, N.Y. Sale, Big Boy Dreams is the third foal out of the unraced Art Major mare Stefani Blue Chip, and is a half-brother to Sebring Blue Chip (by Western Terror) p,3,1:55.3f ($40,891) and Mo Molly Blue Chip (by Rock N Roll Heaven) p,2,1:58h ($34,569).

Neat is another New York-bred who comes into the Windy City fresh off four victories at Yonkers Raceway. Owned by Illinoisans Paymaq Racing and Tim Towne and trained by Erv Miller, the gelded son of Art Major has amassed $155,366 lifetime competing in the Empire State. He was a $30,000 yearling purchase at the 2012 Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg and is the second foal out of his Island Fantasy dam Stonebridge Luau p,3,1:53s ($172,623). Neat is a full brother to Scirocco Billy p,3,1:56.1f ($34,653) and has a half-sibling in the 2-year-old gelding Surf Report p,2,Q1:58.4h, by Sportswriter.