by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — North America’s top freshman pacing colts and geldings are about to be thrust into the spotlight. The lucrative C$700,000 Metro Pace is slated for Saturday (Aug. 31) at Mohawk, but first a trio of eliminations are required, this Saturday at the Campbellville oval.

Illinois-based Joe Seekman has yet to win the rich classic and has a chance with top ranked pacer Let’s Drink On It, who has a solid 3-0-2 record from five starts this season.

Seekman, who has trained winners of nearly $17 million in his career, has had nothing but praise for his youngster since his early lessons.

USTA photo

Joe Seekman will send Let’s Drink On It into the Metro Pace elims.

“Since the first day we broke him, he’s been an absolute gentleman,” Seekman said. “He’s just a natural and everything you want a race horse to be. I’ve had high hopes for him since we first bought him and so far he’s living up to it.”

Seekman purchased the son of Art Official-Letmedowneasy for a mere $12,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale last fall.

“Maybe he caught my eye at the sale because I trained his father (Art Official),” Seekman said. “He was a sharp looking colt with presence to him. He did have a curb (a condition which causes the swelling of the lower part of the hock), which was likely the reason we got him at the price we did.”

So far this year, Let’s Drink On It has banked $97,417 along with a 1:51.3 career mark for owners Martin Scharf, Larry Bond and Hal Hewitt.

The talented pacer has won three Pennsylvania Sires Stakes events, including his most recent outing at The Meadows in 1:52 on Aug. 13.

“He’s two fingers to drive and very versatile, but he’s been put on the front recently or close to it,” said Seekman, who has 1,116 wins as a trainer. “He raced very well in his latest and is coming into the Metro in great shape. There’s nothing else we can ask of him right now. For a young horse, he just does everything right and often acts like an older horse. He’s just a natural.”

Three C$40,000 Metro Pace eliminations will take place with the top three finishers and one fourth place finisher advancing to the rich C$700,000 (est.) final.

“After this weekend we’ll have a better indication of who the better colts are,” said the veteran conditioner. “Right now, it’s too early to tell, but hopefully we’re in the top group.”

Jim Morrill, Jr. will drive Let’s Drink On It from post four in the third elim.

Here are the fields:

Race 5
1. Surprise Hanover
2. Tellitlikeitis
3. Marco De Vie
4. Arthur Blue Chip
5. Luck Be Withyou
6. Here Comes William
7. Some Major Beach
8. Wicked Business
9. Avalanche Hanover

Race 7
1. Play It Again Sam
2. Winds Of Change
3. Western Vintage
4. Major Trick
5. Ideal Jet
6. For A Better Time
7. Somewhere In L A
8. Ideal Magic
9. Twin B Speedo

Race 9
1. Somesizesomestyle
2. Idealbeach Hanover
3. Beat The Drum
4. Let’s Drink On It
5. Three Of Clubs
6. Carraci Hanover
7. Boomboom Ballykeel
8. Journeyman

Also on the 12-race program, older pacers will compete in two C$40,000 Canadian Pacing Derby eliminations. The top five finishers will advance to the C$600,000 final.

Here are the fields:

Race 4
1. Dapper Dude
2. Fred And Ginger
3. Heston Blue Chip
4. Sweet Lou
5. Hurrikane Kingcole
6. Atochia
7. Bolt The Duer
8. Michael’s Power

Race 10
1. Warrawee Needy
2. A Rocknroll Dance
3. Aracache Hanover
4. Clear Vision
5. Foiled Again
6. Pet Rock
7. Thinking Out Loud

Freshman pacing fillies will also contest two C$35,000 She’s A Great Lady eliminations. The top five finishers will advance to the C$430,000 final.

Here are the fields:

Race 2
1. She’s Da Bomb
2. I Need Hotstuff
3. Bahama Blue
4. Lasting Appeal
5. Precocious Beauty
6. Impatience
7. Ravinia Hanover
8. Act Now

Race 3
1. Seashell Hanover
2. Wanna Rock N Roll
3. Gallie Bythe Beach
4. Sudoku
5. Beach Gal
6. Ali Blue
7. Take That Hanover
8. Rockingcam Park
9. Put On A Display