Two separate million-dollar events combined with classic stakes finals for 2- and 3-year-olds highlight one of the highest anticipated race cards of the year at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

by Brett Sturman

Jumping right into it with the Mohawk Million, open to all 2-year-old trotters, 10 horses are represented by just five different trainers and that includes Luc Blais who sends out four separate entries to slots owned by Determination. The breakdown of the race, though, starts with one of the two Marcus Melander trainees, Maryland.

Ever developing, Maryland was massively impressive as a 17-1 upsetter when last seen at Woodbine Mohawk Park two back when he won the William Wellwood final towards the end of August. That night, he went to the lead from post 9, sat the pocket, and once he had room to the inside in the upper stretch he sprinted away nicely from even-money favorite Nordic Catcher S. He followed that up with a win in another half million-dollar race when he jogged last Friday (Sept. 13) in the Peter Haughton at Hoosier, that time as the well-respected 6-5 odds favorite. A win Saturday (Sept. 20) would push him close to $1 million in earnings in just his last three starts alone.

The fastest mark heading into the race is owned by one of three fillies in the field, that being Monalishi who closed from an improbable early position to win the Peaceful Way final two back in a time of 1:52.2. Unbeaten in her last two starts with James MacDonald driving, she’s managed to get the best of fellow rival filly Lasting Dream while racing both from well off cover two races ago and then coming right back next out to do it all on the front end.

Lasting Dream, who it appeared had some brief confusion at the top of the stretch last out and may have been the margin of difference in defeat most recently to Monalishi, is the best of the four Determination and Blais entrants. But another from those connections who warrants a mention is Emoticon Legacy. A well-meant winner last out in her division of the Champlain Stakes, she’s yet another representation in the Mohawk Million by her dam and former O’Brien Award winner, Emoticon Hanover. Last year, Emoticon Hanover produced Drawn Impression and was closely related to Emoji Hanover – two horses who raced in last year’s edition of the race and who race on the same card this Saturday in the Elegantimage final.

Onajetplane was a big overlay when winning the NJ Classic Final last out at The Meadowlands. He seemed right on par with Hidalgo that race and despite a wide disparity in the odds, he was able to sweep comfortably from third-over to win in a lifetime best of 1:53. Go Ahead Makemyday exits that same race and lacked room from the pocket until Onajetplane was already in flight. It was a good race from both, and both seem capable in this spot.

Working inside out with the remaining four horses, Meshuggah leaves Pennsylvania for the first time in his career. You can’t fault his record of having never been worse than second in a bunch of close finishes and Zeron has developed a knack for coming through in these big races, yet to be disproven. Wondrous Blue Chip and Lookatmegoamigo from posts 8 and 9, respectively, seem to be the reaches of the Determination quartet. Torrisi drew the worst of it and despite the respect for the connections and some good money earned in recent Kentucky starts, this filly would need to do something special to win from out here.

Picks: Lasting Dream, Maryland, Monalishi

$713,000 CANADIAN TROTTING CLASSIC — 3-YEAR-OLD OPEN

In the $713,000 Canadian Trotting Classic, heavily backed and easy elimination winners Highland Kismet and Sir Pinocchio square off. Sir Pinocchio did it easy last week in a rare appearance outside of New York, while Highland Kismet’s elimination win time of 1:51.1 was the faster of the two by over a full second. With Karl’s loss earlier in the week at Lexington, his second of the year, I wonder if it opens the door a little more for Highland Kismet to capitalize and close within the divisional rankings. Second to Karl in the Hambletonian, Highland Kismet has been vicious in his last pair and could be the horse to watch heading into the fall.

$532,000 SHES A GREAT LADY FINAL — 2-YEAR-OLD PACING FILLIES

Chantilly has been nothing short of sensational early in her career and she’ll take her unbeaten streak into the $532,000 She’s A Great Lady final. She jogged as usual last week in her elimination and has remained as fast and consistent as she was when first posting that eye opening 1:50.4 mile on July 16, which was matched in her most recent race. As a potential longshot, Nice Buns had an impossible trip against Chantilly in her elimination but at least gave it a shot, would like even more if Dunn opts here over the Pelling trainee.

$1 MILLION METRO PACE FINAL — 2-YEAR-OLD OPEN

The Metro goes as the other $1 million race on the Saturday card as one of the premier events of the year for 2-year-old colt pacers. In a race where many of these could win with the right trip, Fallout became the latest 2-year-old this year to win in a time of sub 1:50 when he sprung the mild upset last week at odds of 7-1 in a time of 1:49.3. That marked his fourth straight race timed in under 1:50 and in retrospect those many races against killer Louprint prepared him well for last week. Captain Optimistic brushed and crushed in his elimination win and will likely go off as the lukewarm favorite with the post advantage over most of his main rivals. Swingtown tired late in his elimination as the big favorite. Heavily touted colt from Ohio will offer more value now while getting a second chance over the big track for Burke. Papi’s Pistol surprised Captain Optimistic a few back at The Meadowlands and was used harder than I’m sure Miller would have liked in his elimination and he was pacing evenly enough in the late stages; possible upset call. Prince Hal Hanover outraced his odds in a multiple move elimination try; draws favorably for the final and goes second time McCarthy.

$347,000 ELEGANTIMAGE — 3-YEAR-OLD TROTTING FILLIES

Drawn Impression drifted a little in her Elegantimage elimination giving the inside path to R Melina but was able to narrowly hang on in a :26 and change trotting sprint to the finish; those two may again be the top two choices with $347,000 on the line in this stakes final. Emoji Hanover won the other elimination last week, but she hasn’t been able to yet figure out either Drawn Impression or R Melina in recent tries against both. Cool Ma Belle took an insane amount of tote action last out against Emoji Hanover and broke into the stretch when it looked like she was just about to get involved. Tactical Strike may have won her elimination had Filion moved off the pylons earlier in the stretch; I have no idea why he didn’t.