by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Julie Miller hopes that if anyone can win Saturday’s C$462,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old trotters at Mohawk Racetrack, My Man Can.

My Man Can notched his first win last weekend by defeating Ergo Hanover by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:57.1 in his Wellwood elimination. My Man Can finished second in his two previous starts — a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division on August 23 at Harrah’s Philadelphia and a division of the Champlain Stakes on August 31 at Mohawk — and has been worse than third only once in six career races.

“We were kind of pointing him to this and hopefully he’s coming into his own,” Miller said about the colt’s improvement heading into the Wellwood final. “That was the plan. That was a good race last week; we were pretty happy with him. Everything went right with the trip and he got up for the win.”

New Image Media photo

My Man Can was a 1:57.1 winner in his Wellwood elimination.

My Man Can is a son of Cantab Hall out of the mare Woman Of Strength. He was purchased for $32,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale and is a half-brother to Whit, who was second to Manofmanymissions in last season’s New Jersey Sire Stakes championship for 3-year-old male trotters. He has earned $94,302 for owners Andy Miller Stable, Albert Delia Jr. and Mark Moger.

“We just liked how he looked and he was in our price range and we went for it,” Julie Miller said. “He showed us enough talent training down that we did put him in some of the open (stakes) events. And I’m glad we did seeing how we’re going to the Wellwood on Saturday. I’m pretty excited.”

A foot injury slowed My Man Can’s development as he was preparing for the campaign, but the colt has made steady progress since then.

“He didn’t really do anything wrong,” Miller said. “He ended up having a foot issue early in the year and we kind of had to baby him along there. We didn’t want to rush him with that. We wanted to give it time to heal properly.

“He’s really a big horse, but he’s just great to be around on and off the track.”

Also winning his Wellwood elimination last weekend was Wheeling N Dealin, who captured his division by two lengths over Murmur Hanover in 1:56.4. Trained by Dustin Jones and driven by Sylvain Filion, Wheeling N Dealin is 6-for-6 this year, including a 1:55 victory in a Champlain split.

Wheeling N Dealin is also a son of Cantab Hall, out of the stakes-winning mare Quick Credit.

“I’d like to get a two-hole trip behind (Wheeling N Dealin) and then pop up and win it,” Miller said with a laugh about the Wellwood final. “That would be my dream trip. I’m sure nine other people have their dream trip too.

“I know we have gate speed and I know Andy can also take him back. I’m just looking for a good race and hopefully we can get some money.”

Following is the Wellwood Memorial field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Pounce Hanover, Rick Zeron, Zeron; 2. My Man Can, Andy Miller, Julie Miller; 3. Wheeling N Dealin, Sylvain Filion, Dustin Jones; 4. Murmur Hanover, Mario Baillargeon, Benoit Baillargeon; 5. Hobsons Choice, Randy Waples, Clark Beelby; 6. Cool Victory, Jack Moiseyev, John Kopas; 7. Muscle On Broadway, Paul MacDonell, Michael Keeling; 8. Bluto, Jimmy Takter, Takter; 9. Ergo Hanover, Mike Lachance, Takter; 10. Creampuff Macdaddy, Waples, Bjorn “Bernie” Noren.

DREAMING OF ANOTHER VICTORY: To Dream On, who has won all five of her starts this year, including the $354,450 Merrie Annabelle on August 4 at the Meadowlands, headlines Saturday’s C$435,000 Peaceful Way Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters.

To Dream On won her Peaceful Way elimination by 3-1/4 lengths over Shared Past in 1:54 with David Miller in the sulky. The filly is trained by Jimmy Takter and owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. She is a daughter of Credit Winner, out of the mare Satin Pillows, and was purchased for $200,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. Satin Pillows is a half-sister to millionaire Pampered Princess, who won this event in 2006 when it was called the Oakville Stakes.

In the other Peaceful Way elim, Bee A Magician won her fourth consecutive start by beating Zorgwijk Nova by two lengths in 1:54.3. Bee A Magician, driven by Rick Zeron, is trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman and owned by Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee. She has won six of eight starts overall. A daughter of Kadabra out of the mare Beehive, Bee A Magician was purchased for $90,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale.

Following is the Peaceful Way field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Samartina, Keith Oliver, John Bax; 2. Bee A Magician, Rick Zeron, R. Nifty Norman; 3. Shared Past, Yannick Gingras, Jonas Czernyson; 4. To Dream On, David Miller, Jimmy Takter; 5. Massmanian Devil, Billy Davis Jr., Blake MacIntosh; 6. Online Exclusive, Andy Miller, Tony Alagna; 7. Antsy Dancey, Sylvain Filion, Chris Beaver; 8. Lady Dynamite, Gingras, Mark Harder; 9. Handover Belle, Mike Lachance, Alagna; 10. Zorgwijk Nova, Jody Jamieson, Ronnie MacLean.