from WEG media

Campbellville, ON — Nobody saw this coming. Modern Legend, a 66-1 shot with David Miller in the sulky, mowed down a field of the finest older pacers in North America to win the historic C$634,000 Canadian Pacing Derby on Saturday (Aug. 30) at Mohawk Racetrack.

New Image Media photo

Modern Legend pulled off a major upset in the Canadian Pacing Derby.

His final time of 1:47.2 equaled the stakes, track and Canadian record. Not only that, the 6-year-old gelded son of Modern Art-Ruby Cam is bred, owned and trained by a St. Catharines, Ontario, resident, David Drew.

To put the result in perspective, trainer Ron Burke had four hopefuls in the Derby, headed by the 1-5 choice Sweet Lou, seeking his 11th consecutive win. But he also had Foiled Again, the richest pacer in history and the 2012 Derby winner, Clear Vision, who was runner-up last year and the hard-knocking Bettor’s Edge.

It mattered not, as Modern Legend, second-over turning for home, blew by the leaders and pulled away to score by three lengths over Foiled Again, with Clear Vision third and Captive Audience fourth. Sweet Lou, who had taken over before a half in :53, got to the three-quarters in a sizzling 1:20.1, but could not sustain the pace, eventually fading to sixth.

Foiled Again then briefly took over from Sweet Lou in mid-stretch before succumbing to one of the longest shots to ever win a major race.

“The race worked out great, just the way I wanted it to,” said Miller. “I know the horse Clear Vision and I figured if I could get on his back and follow him he’d take me where I needed to go to be in the race. And I was so surprised around the last turn, I had a lot of horse. We came into the stretch, I fanned him out and the horse did the rest. He raced tremendous. He beat some great horses. He’s battled with them for the last couple of years and he finally got the job done.”

It was just the fourth win in 18 starts this year for Modern Legend, his 18th overall and unquestionably the biggest and richest victory in his career. The winning purse of C$317,000 pushed his career bankroll to more than C$840,000, which still pales in comparison to five of his millionaire and multi-millionaire rivals.

“At this point, he’s the only horse I have,” said Drew. “I’ve had as many as five but we’re down to one now. He’s an absolute top horse, a horse of a lifetime for me and a race of a lifetime (tonight). He’s been racing on the Grand Circuit for the last couple of years and coming close, but never really put it all together. David Miller gave him a great trip.

“He always has raced well. He had some outside posts early on, some tough trips, got some interference, but he’s been racing well. It was just a matter of putting it all together at the right time at the right place and he did that tonight. I’m very proud of him. It’s just a superb night for me and my family and the horse.”

Ron Pierce, who drove Sweet Lou to the sixth place finish, didn’t think the race favorite was his best tonight.

“I’ve been racing him like that every start now and the track is lightning fast. He just coasted to the top. If I had to do it over again naturally I would’ve sat, but then I would’ve wound up first over, so I figured I might as well move to the top. There are a couple sick ones in the barn, the filly I raced earlier (Band Of Angels), she was sick and a couple others are sick in the barn, so maybe he has a touch of the flu, but he wasn’t himself tonight.”

Modern Legend was 28-1, when finishing fourth, just a length behind Clear Vision, in last week’s second elimination, while Sweet Lou had powered his way to victory in the first elimination to ensure his favoritism in the Derby.

With Sweet Lou out of the money, Modern Legend lit up the toteboard, paying $135.70, $43.20 and $142.70, combining with Foiled Again ($8.90, $12.70) for a $1,689.10 (1-7) exactor. A 1-7-2 (Clear Vision, $30.90) triactor was worth a whopping $5,829 while a $1 superfecta (1-7-2-5–Captive Audience) returned $7,804.10.