by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies and 3-year-old male trotters highlighted the Canadian Pacing Derby undercard Saturday night (Aug. 30) at Mohawk.

Trixton was a 1:52.2 winner in the Simcoe Stakes on Saturday.

A field of 12 3-year-old trotters, headlined by Hambletonian winner Trixton, battled for a purse of C$218,076. Making his first start since his Hambletonian victory, Trixton did not disappoint as the 2-5 favorite despite starting from the second tier in post position 11.

Trained and driven by Jimmy Takter, Trixton got away seventh, but was buried along the rail as the field went by the opening quarter in :26.4. In the second quarter, Takter got Trixton off the pylons and third over behind Il Sogno Dream. However, Il Sogno Dream stopped advancing in the third quarter and Takter was forced to send Trixton three-wide as he was fifth at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.1.

EL Titan led the field into the stretch, but Damfoolrmillionair overtook the lead and had a four length advantage on Trixton with an eighth of a mile to go. In the final eighth, Trixton would show his abilites to track down Damfoolrmillionair and trot by to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:52.2. Damfoolrmillionair held on for second, while P L Hercules was third.

“It’s really hard to predict a race like this,” said Takter about starting from post 11. “He hadn’t raced for a month and he needed this start.”

A son of Muscle Hill–Emilie Cas El, Trixton is owned by Brixton Medical Ab and Christina Takter. The Simcoe Stakes victory was Trixton’s eighth win in 10 starts this season and the 12th victory of his career. He now has career earnings of C$961,876. Trixton paid $2.80 to win.

A field of nine 3-year-old pacing fillies contested their Simcoe Stakes for a purse of C$207,689. Gettingreadytoroll showed a ton of grit to capture the event after a tough first over trip.

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Gettingreadytoroll was a narrow winner in a time of 1:49.4.

A daughter of Rocknroll Hanover–Captain Holly, Gettingreadytoroll came first up after Precocious Beauty rolled along on the lead and set opening fractions of :26.4 and :54.3. Precocious Beauty reached the three-quarter pole in 1:22.2 with Nat A Virgin in the two hole, Gettingreadytoroll first up and Uffizi Hanover second over.

In the stretch, Gettingreadytoroll powered her way to the lead and held off Beach Gal, who came from third over to finish second, and Nat A Virgin, who came up the rail to take third, to win by a half-length in 1:49.4.

The Simcoe Stakes start was the first start for Gettingreadytoroll since winning the Miss New Jersey Stakes at the Meadowlands on Aug. 2.

Following the race, trainer Jimmy Takter said he was a little worried his filly might be short after the long layoff.

“Actually I was (worried about the layoff). It’s a long gap, I qualified her myself in Pocono last week and I just gave her a little workout,” said Takter. “Staying sharp is a big factor, but she’s a game girl.”

Gettingreadytoroll is owned by Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding. The Simcoe Stakes victory was her fifth win in ten starts this season and the sixth victory of her career. The winner’s share of the purse boosts Gettingreadytoroll’s earnings to more than C$208,000. She paid $10.10 to win.

The Simcoe/Champlain Grand Circuit Stakes continue next Saturday with the Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers and the Champlain Stakes for both the 2-year-old filly pacers and the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers.