by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Trevor Ritchie isn’t sure whether mare trotter Peaceful Way can defeat her male counterparts in Saturday’s C$918,500 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, but he knows she will give him maximum effort.

“Obviously, having a mare racing against the colts is certainly a step up,” said Ritchie, who is 7-for-7 in driving Peaceful Way to the winner’s circle this year. “I can’t make predictions; I gave that up a long time ago. She’s a great mare and a great trier. I expect her to give that 150 percent that she gives every week. The question with her has always been how much is left in the tank? I think we’re going to have to find out. She’s going to have to let you go to the bottom of the barrel.”

Peaceful Way has won 10 consecutive starts dating to last October, including the Breeders Crown, Classic Oaks and Armbro Flight. She has won 26 of 32 lifetime races and earned $1.8 million. In July, she equaled the world record for a female trotter by winning in 1:51.4 at the Meadowlands. Ritchie took over as her regular driver this year.

“I’ve fallen right in love with her,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve seemed to have clicked together; she’s done me a whole lot of good. I’ve got a very warm spot for her. So far, everything has gone right. But anybody else that’s driven her has done just as well. I think it’s more her. She’s a great mare with world class speed. She usually gets you where you want to go, when you want to get there. I don’t think it’s any trick I’ve got with her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trotter that for a piece has the kind of speed she’s got.”

Peaceful Way is the No. 1 ranked Standardbred in the current Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Top 10 poll. Mr Muscleman, the defending Maple Leaf Trot champion, is second. Mr Muscleman will be looking to become the first horse to win back-to-back titles since No Sex Please in 1989-90. He has won 11 of 13 races this year and 31 of 55 for $2.8 million lifetime. He also is coming off a victory in the Breeders Crown, held September 3 at Mohawk.

“It should be a good race,” said Ron Pierce, Mr Muscleman’s driver. “Mr Muscleman, as far as I know, is A-OK. I don’t know who can beat him if he’s at his best; not if he’s as good as he can be. It’s just a question of getting him in position to make sure he’s got a shot to trot somewhere in the mile. He’ll do the rest. You can always get stuck in traffic or get run into; that would get him beat. But if he gets a clean journey, I don’t see him getting beat.”

A field of 12 horses is expected to start in the Maple Leaf Trot, with 10 horses on the gate and two trailers, which will follow the horses in posts one and two. Peaceful Way drew post two; Mr Muscleman drew post nine. The last female to win the Maple Leaf Trot was Franconia in 1987. Moni Maker, who was second to Magician in 2000, was the last female to compete in the race.

“I like the (post) position I’m in,” Ritchie said. “The only thing I don’t like is having a trailing horse. I kind of like to time the gate somewhat with her and having a horse coming up behind her might get her anxious. She might be perfect, that’s what I’m hoping for. It might just be tougher to time the gate.”

There have been 18 race miles by trotters under 1:52 in history, and four belong to Mr Muscleman. Peaceful Way has one and Hellava Hush also has one. In fact, Hellava Hush, who trotted 1:51 to win the Nat Ray last month at the Meadowlands, has the fastest mark of any horse in the field.

“It’s not like this is a two-horse race,” Ritchie said. “These two (Peaceful Way and Mr Muscleman) are getting more of the attention, but there are a lot of good horses in this field. Everyone is intrigued because Mr Muscleman has been the best boy and Peaceful Way has been the best girl. A lot of people have wanted to see this. But it’s not a two-horse race.”

Below is the field in post-position order for Saturday’s C$918,500 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Drivers and trainers listed are from most recent races. Four of the last five horses voted the Dan Patch Award as best older trotter won the Maple Leaf Trot – Mr Muscleman, Rotation, Fool’s Goal, and Magician.