by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — World class trotters will invade Mohawk Racetrack this Saturday (Sep. 12) for the Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations.

The Maple Leaf Trot has attracted an All-Star international group of 14 older trotters, including mares D’One and Bee A Magician. A talented crew of 13 3-year-old trotters, including Hambletonian champion Pinkman, will compete in the Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations.

The 64th edition of the Maple Leaf Trot will feature two C$40,000 seven-horse eliminations. The top five finishers from each elimination will punch their ticket to the final.

Swedish trotting mare D’One will look to remain undefeated on North American soil in the second elimination. The Roger Walmann trainee is a perfect two-for-two this summer in the United States, but the Maple Leaf Trot will be her first attempt against the boys.

D’One (post seven, Marcus Johansson) is by Donato Hanover, the 2007 Canadian Trotting Classic champion, and out of Giant Diablo, the fastest trotting mare of all-time. The regally bred trotting mare has won 17 of 30 career starts. European driving star Orjan Kilhstrom is the regular driver of D’One and has driven her in both of her North American starts, but Marcus Johansson is listed to handle the driving duties Saturday night.

Intimidate (post four, Sylvain Filion), last year’s Maple Leaf Trot winner, is back to defend his title. The Luc Blais trainee has yet to find the winner’s circle this season, but the 6-year-old gelding was a surprise winner in last year’s event at 45-1.

Flanagan Memory, Obrigado, Market Share, Daylon Magician and Resolve, a supplement entry, round out the field for the second elimination.

JL Cruze (post three, John Campbell), the fastest trotter ever on a mile track, highlights the first elimination. The connections of the World Champion put up C$45,000 to supplement the 4-year-old gelding to this year’s Maple Leaf Trot. Trained by Eric Ell, JL Cruze has won 16 of 19 starts this season for $620,788 in earnings. The son of Crazed became the first sub-1:50 trotter on a mile track when he won the $250,000 Graduate in 1:49.4 at The Meadowlands.

Superstar Bee A Magician (post five, Brian Sears), the 2013 Horse of the Year, will take on the boys in that first elimination. The daughter of Kadabra has eight victories in 11 starts this season, including a victory over her male rivals in the Cutler Memorial back in May. The Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman trainee has earned $517,645 this season to increase her career bankroll to more than $3.2 million.

Magic Tonight (post two, Marcus Johansson), this year’s Elitlopp champion, will also compete in the first split. The Walmann trainee came over to North America along with D’One earlier this summer and will be making his third start since arriving. The 6-year-old son of Andover Hall has four victories from eight starts this season.

Whiskey Tax, E L Titan, Natural Herbie and Lindy’s Tru Grit round out the field for the first elimination.

The winners of each elimination will earn the right to select their post position for the C$680,000 final on Saturday (Sept. 19). The Maple Leaf Trot eliminations will take place as races eight and ten.

The top sophomore trotting colts and geldings in the sport will contest a pair of C$40,000 eliminations for the Canadian Trotting Classic.

Pinkman (post five, Yannick Gingras), the Hambletonian champion, highlights the second elimination for trainer Jimmy Takter. The son of Explosive Matter will be joined by stablemates Canepa Hanover (post four, John Campbell) and The Bank (post seven, Jimmy Takter) in the seven-horse contest.

Pinkman enters the Trotting Classic with eight victories in 12 starts this season for earnings of more than $1.2 million. His career bankroll sits at $1.7 million.

The first elimination features Crazy Wow (post four, Tim Tetrick), the Colonial Stakes winner, from the Ron Burke barn. A son of Crazed, Crazy Wow has won three of his last four starts heading into the Trotting Classic. The sophomore trotting colt has six victories in 11 starts this season for earnings of $562,537.

Takter trainees Uncle Lasse (post one, TBA) and French Laundry (post three, TBA) will line up in the first elimination to give the Hall of Fame conditioner five starters in the Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations.

The top five finishers from each split will move on to the C$700,000 final on Saturday (Sept. 19). The elimination winners will earn the right to pick their post for the final.

The Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations have been carded as races one and three.

Saturday’s card will also feature divisions of the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old pacers and the Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old pacers. Post time is 7:25 p.m.

Here are the full fields for Saturday’s eliminations, in post position order, with listed drivers.

Maple Leaf Trot – Elimination #1 (Race 8)
1. Whiskey Tax – Sylvain Filion
2. Magic Tonight – Marcus Johansson
3. JL Cruze – John Campbell
4. E L Titan – Tim Tetrick
5. Bee A Magician – Brian Sears
6. Natural Herbie – Verlin Yoder
7. Lindy’s Tru Grit – Scott Zeron

Maple Leaf Trot – Elimination #2 (Race 10)
1. Flanagan Memory – Randy Waples
2. Obrigado – Mark MacDonald
3. Market Share – Tim Tetrick
4. Intimidate – Sylvain Filion
5. Daylon Magician – Jack Moiseyev
6. Resolve – Ake Svanstedt
7. D’One – Marcus Johnasson

Canadian Trotting Classic – Elimination #1 (Race 1)
1. Uncle Lasse – TBA
2. Jetpedia – Mike Saftic
3. French Laundry – TBA
4. Crazy Wow – Tim Tetrick
5. Muscle Up The Goal – TBA
6. Dont Rush – Chris Christoforou

Canadian Trotting Classic – Elimination #2 (Race 3)
1. Centurion ATM – Ake Svanstedt
2. Iron – Scott Zeron
3. Lookslikeachpndale – Sylvain Filion
4. Canepa Hanover – John Campbell
5. Pinkman – Yannick Gingras
6. Muscle Diamond – John Campbell
7. The Bank – Jimmy Takter