by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Campbellville, ON — Saturday night (Sept. 4) will see Mohawk Racetrack offer one of its finest race cards of the year. The C$1 million Metro Pace takes place along with the C$688,000 She’s A Great Lady Stakes, C$780,000 Canadian Pacing Derby and a pair of C$127,946 Simcoe Stakes divisions. Overall, there will be over C$4 million in purse money distributed.

The richest horse on the race card is Shark Gesture. The son of Cam’s Card Shark will be looking to defend his Canadian Pacing Derby title from post eight. With nearly $3 million in career earnings, Shark Gesture has won his last two events with his most recent victory being in the William R. Haughton Memorial for free for all pacers at the Meadowlands in 1:48.2.

The 7-year-old has posted seven wins and three second place efforts in 10 starts this year along with $918,875 in seasonal earnings.

New Jersey based horseman Larry Remmen has shipped Shark Gesture to his brother Gord who is stabled at Mohawk Racetrack in preparation for the big event for free for all pacers.

According to Gord Remmen, Shark Gesture couldn’t be coming into the Canadian Pacing Derby any better.

“I’ll tell you what, he seems tremendous. For a horse that has put in the kind of miles he has he’s in really good horse flesh and feeling good,” Remmen told WEG’s media department.

“He is nothing else but tough,” Remmen commented. “He’ll go his race again tomorrow (Saturday) night and someone’s going to have to come up with a real good race to beat him.”

Shark Gesture has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite for owner Norm and Gerald Smiley and TLP Stable. Regular pilot George Brennan will once again be in the sulky.

To watch the video interview on the Woodbine Entertainment website, click here.

There will be plenty of other of things happening on Saturday night at Mohawk with the doors open to fans at 5:30 p.m.

A beginner betting seminar will take place at 6 p.m. where fans will receive a free race program and $2 loaded cash card to make a wager on the program. There will also be a draw for four $50 HPI account deposits.

Mohawk will also be hosting an extreme handicapping contest championship challenge with upwards of $7,500 in prize money to be won. Customers have up until 9 p.m. on Saturday night to register and can pre-register at the Mohawk Gift Store and Woodbine player services desk.

A $75,000 guaranteed pool for the early Pick-4 and several second-chance draws throughout the evening will also be part of Saturday night’s festivities.

For those who can’t make it to the track on Saturday, The Score will carry special coverage of both the Metro and Canadian Pacing Derby during a two-hour special from 9-11 p.m. (EDT).

First post for Saturday night’s program from Mohawk is 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.mohawkracetrack.com.