by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Jimmy Takter will send three horses into Saturday’s (September 17) C$469,000 William Wellwood Memorial at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario, including elimination winner Little Brown Fox, who finished a half-length ahead of stablemate Weingartner in 1:56.3. Joining those two in the final from the Takter Stable is Nothing But Class, who was third in an elim won by The Game Plan in 1:55.

Little Brown Fox’s win was his first in four races. He was driven by Ron Pierce.

“He raced really good,” Takter said. “He’s a green colt with a lot of ability. Hopefully, he will improve a little bit more from the previous start.

USTA photo

Jimmy Takter has a trio of starters in this Saturday’s Wellwood final.

“He got a little sick (in July) and lost a good month there. The first start I raced him up here he raced good, but he got shuffled back and locked in (and finished fourth in a division of the Champlain Stakes). We opened up with him a little bit in the elimination and he raced well.”

Weingartner has won three of eight races, including the $400,000 Peter Haughton Memorial and a $103,704 division of the Champlain. He has earned $290,206, which makes him the richest 2-year-old male trotter so far this season. The Wellwood will be his final start of the campaign.

“He’s been in all the dances,” Takter said. “I’m going to shut him down after this start, no matter what. He’s done well this year and I’ve got to protect him for next year. He needs time to grow into his body. We’ve got to be careful with these horses.”

In his elimination, Weingartner went to the front from post four, but Takter, who drove the colt, said being on the lead is not his best game.

“He’s much better sitting in the pocket,” Takter said. “He’s more aggressive then. He’s got a good strong burst coming home.”

Nothing But Class is a full-brother to millionaire filly Pampered Princess. He is winless in six races, but was second in a Reynolds Stakes division earlier this year.

“He’s getting a little better with every start,” Takter said. “He’s a beautiful horse. He’s a good colt, but I think he will be a better horse in the future, as a 3-year-old.”

American Gangster, driven by Brian Sears for trainer Chris Oakes, set the Mohawk track record for 2-year-old male trotters when he won the third of the three eliminations in 1:54.4. He lowered the mark established by The Game Plan just three races prior. (The full story is here.)

Following is the William Wellwood Memorial field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Power Play, David Miller, Julie Miller; 2. The Game Plan, Jack Moiseyev, John Kopas; 3. American Gangster, Brian Sears, Chris Oakes; 4. Little Brown Fox, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Taker; 5. Nothing But Class, Tim Tetrick, Takter; 6. Appomattox, Luc Ouellette, Frank Antonacci; 7. Weingartner, Takter, Takter; 8. Here’s The Magic, Scott Zeron, Richard “Nifty” Norman; 9. Money On My Mind, Andy Miller, Julie Miller; 10. Prestidigitator, Sylvain Filion, R. Dustin Jones.