by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Just a week after capturing the Metro Pace, Control The Moment will put his undefeated streak on the line in a division of the Champlain Stakes this Saturday night (Sept. 12) at Mohawk Racetrack. A total of 17 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings have been split into two divisions of the Champlain Stakes.

Control The Moment headlines the C$117,407 first division from post position one for driver Randy Waples and trainer Brad Maxwell. The son of Well Said scored a dominant 1:49.4 victory in last Saturday’s $513,750 Metro Pace to remain undefeated in seven starts. Control The Moment has compiled a bankroll of $331,757 for owners Maxwell, Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold and Ben Mudry.

Betting Line, who finished second in the Metro Pace, will look to turn the tables on Control The Moment from post position nine. The Casie Coleman trainee finished 2-1/4 lengths behind Control The Moment in the Metro final. The son of Bettor’s Delight has four victories from seven starts to begin his career and Steve Condren will once again handle the driving duties Saturday.

A field of eight will contest the C$115,906 second Champlain division. Tony Alagna trainee Voracity headlines the second split and is coming off a third place finish in the Metro Pace. The son of Sportswriter has four victories from six starts, including a win in his elimination for the Metro Pace. Voracity will start from post position six with Waples in the bike.

The Champlain divisions for the 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings will take place as races 11 and 12.

Similar to the Metro winner, L A Delight, the She’s A Great Lady champion, is right back in action on Saturday. The Bob McIntosh trainee headlines a field of nine in the lone division of the Champlain Filly Stakes for a purse of C$241,380. A daughter of Bettor’s Delight, L A Delight was a powerful 1:51.2 winner in the She’s A Great Lady to extend her current win streak to eight. The McIntosh filly’s only loss came in her career debut. L A Delight will start from post position four with Waples at the controls. The Champlain Filly Stakes is race nine on Saturday’s card.

A field of nine 3-year-old male pacers will square-off in the C$224,907 Simcoe Stakes Saturday. Artspeak, last year’s Metro Pace and rookie pacing colt of the year, headlines the field for the Simcoe. The Tony Alagna trainee is coming off a sharp 1:50.1 qualifier last Friday at Mohawk. A son of Western Ideal, Artspeak has three victories from 11 starts this season for earnings of $398,985. The sophomore pacer has only missed the top five once this season and brings a career bankroll of $1.1 million into the Simcoe. Artspeak will start from post four and be driven by Scott Zeron.

Coleman trainee Reverend Hanover will also line up in the Simcoe. The son of Sportswriter has won back-to-back starts since returning to the track for the first time since May. Last Saturday, Reverend Hanover made a statement with a 1:48.3 victory in a 3-year-old Open. The Coleman trainee, who was undefeated in four starts last season, brings a career record of six wins from eight starts and earnings of $249,500 into the Simcoe. Reverend Hanover will start from the rail with Condren in the sulky.

The Simcoe Stakes has been carded as race five Saturday evening.

Saturday night’s card will also feature the eliminations for the Maple Leaf Trot and the Canadian Trotting Classic. In total, eight stakes races will be contested Saturday night at Mohawk. Post time is 7:25 p.m.

Here are the full fields for the Champlain and Simcoe Stakes, in post position order, with listed drivers.

C$224,907 Simcoe Stakes (Race 5)
1. Reverend Hanover – Steve Condren
2. Lyons Levi Lewis – Sylvain Filion
3. P L Idaho – TBA
4. Artspeak – Scott Zeron
5. Split The House – Randy Waples
6. J Js Delivery – James MacDonald
7. The Wayfaring Man – Sylvain Filion
8. Go Daddy Go – John Campbell
9. Lyons Again – Yannick Gingras

C$241,380 Champlain Filly Stakes (Race 9)
1. Maniana – James MacDonald
2. L A Delight – Randy Waples
3. Ivy League – Jimmy Takter
4. Bernadette – Jody Jamieson
5. Three Dreams – James MacDonald
6. Twin B Thong – Chris Christoforou
7. Good Will Hanover – Paul MacDonell
8. Heavenly Bet – John Campbell
9. Sports Expert – James MacDonald

C$117,407 Champlain Stakes (Race 11)
1. Control The Moment – Randy Waples
2. The Catamount Kid – Jody Jamieson
3. Inspiration View – Randy Waples
4. Nocturnal Bluechip – Paul MacDonell
5. Stonebridge Beach – Stephane Pouliot
6. Racing Hill – Yannick Gingras
7. Rock Power – Sylvain Filion
8. Rodeo Rock – Randy Waples
9. Betting Line – Steve Condren

C$115,906 Champlain Stakes (Race 12)
1. Adrian Hanover – Yannick Gingras
2. Sossys King Kong – Brian Sears
3. New Talent – Randy Waples
4. Nvestment Bluechip – Jody Jamieson
5. Max Is Back – Paul MacDonell
6. Voracity – Randy Waples
7. Kokanee Seelster – Phil Hudon
8. Shoreview – Steve Condren