Mcwicked upsets Lazarus N in Canadian Pacing Derby thriller
MILTON, September 1, 2018 –
Mcwicked, with a first over trip, overtook 1-5 favourite
Lazarus N, the ‘Wonder From Down Under,’ with an impressive stretch move to win Saturday’s $600,000 Canadian Pacing Derby, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Trained by Casie Coleman for S S G Stables, the seven-year-old son of Mcardle added to his more than $3-million in purse earnings while providing Coleman with her first Canadian Pacing Derby title and driver Dave Miller with his third.
Filibuster Hanover and Nirvana Seelster powered off the gate with the former marking the opening quarter in :26.4. Lazarus N, pacing in third position in rein to Yannick Gingras, brushed to the front down the backstretch to make the half in :55.1.
Lazarus N, purchased by Taylor Made earlier this year, had won 36 of 46 starts and accumulated $2.8 million in earnings heading into the Canadian Pacing Derby. However, his lead through the final turn was under serious threat as Mcwicked, in range and powering up, had the measure of Lazarus and opened up with conviction to secure the upset win as the 7-2 second choice in 1:49 flat. Lazarus N held on strong for place over Split the House.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s a great race to win, a lot of tradition and a lot of money,” said Miller. “You can’t take nothing away from him. A first-over grind into Lazarus, I wasn’t too confident around the last turn, but I got into the stretch and my horse felt really strong. I asked him, and he did the rest.”
Coleman finished second in the 2012 edition of the Canadian Pacing Derby with Betterthancheddar and was thrilled to go one better on this night.
“I’ve always wanted to win this race,” said Coleman. “I was second with Betterthancheddar once but was never able to win it.”
Mcwicked, who banked $300,000 for the Canadian Pacing Derby win, overcame more than just a Down Under champion.
“He’s been off a few weeks and I never told anybody but he’s coming off a quarter crack and that’s the reason he was scratched from the qualifier,” said Coleman. “When he was first over coming onto Lazarus, I wasn’t overly happy, but it worked out great. Dave said the scary part is how easy he did it. He said he was just absolutely phenomenal and had lots left.”
At age seven, Mcwicked is showing no signs of slowing down.
“He was great as a three-year-old and won everything I put him in pretty much,” recalled Coleman. “At four, it was a tough year for him. He made $200,000 but he didn’t have a win. I lost him for awhile and he came back, and he’s just been phenomenal the past couple years.”
Coleman is looking forward to seeing her star pupil continue to battle with the ‘Wonder From Down Under’ as the season continues.
“It’s going to be a fun season. I was having fun without Lazarus, it was a little bit easier competition. There’s going to be some exciting racing, we’re paid into everything and I’m sure he’s paid into everything. I’m sure we’ll see each other a lot coming up this summer,” said Coleman.
The runner-up finish by Lazarus drops ‘The Wonder from Down Under’ to one for two in North America. The Pacing Derby was his first start since winning the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on August 10.
“He raced good, just a little tired finishing,” said Gingras of Lazarus’ performance. “He needs some racing. The other horse is a good horse and went a big mile and you’ve got to give him credit, but I think my horse needs a couple starts.”
Mcwicked, bred by Andray Farm of Pennsylvania, paid $9.70 to win.
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Crazy Wow springs 31-1 upset in Maple Leaf Trot
MILTON, September 1, 2018 –
Crazy Wow, piloted by Jody Jamieson, posted a barefoot 31-1 upset over favoured Marion Marauder in Saturday’s $651,000 Maple Leaf Trot, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Trained by Marcus Melander for owners Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45, J And T Silva Stables LLC and Deo Volente Farms LLC, the six-year-old son of Crazed was first off the gate and first when it mattered most in the Canadian classic.
Will Take Charge overtook the speedy Crazy Wow and Emoticon Hanover to make the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :55.1. Ariana G moved first over with Marion Marauder following her cover, but it was Crazy Wow, sitting second late in the turn, that had the most to offer down the lane to spring the upset in 1:51.1.
While the public was surprised, Jamieson, who previously won the Maple Leaf Trot in 2012 with Mister Herbie, was not.
“I thought I was even-money,” joked Jamieson when asked what he thought of his chances going into the race. “I talked to Marcus (Melander) and he said he was real confident in the horse. We actually hooked up jogging (in the warm ups) with St Lads Neptune and this horse, Crazy Wow, and he said, ‘look at him. Look how happy he is.’ I couldn’t argue with him, the horse looked amazingly happy. When the horse saw the gate tonight he was just a different animal.”
Although it was Jamieson’s first time piloting the six-year-old, the veteran driver performed with confidence.
“I’ve watched him race plenty of times, but I didn’t realize what kind of horse he was,” said Jamieson. “That was a big trip tonight and he made it look real easy.”
Jamieson made the winning move at the top of the lane, when squeezing inside of Will Take Charge.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to get through. Around the last turn, I was following what I figured was the best horse in the race, Will Take Charge,” said Jamieson. “And with Ariana G out there I figured maybe I’m going to be third, maybe at the very worst, and a little slim lane opened up and I jammed myself through there like I get in trouble sometimes for doing, but he just trotted right through there. Once I got through there clean it was never in doubt that he was going to win.”
Melander made the key decision to pull Crazy Wow’s shoes for the lucrative final.
“I’ve been thinking about that since I got the horse eight weeks ago,” said Melander. “We trained him our way and then he qualified good at Pocono. He was a little short last week, of course, after just one qualifier after eight weeks break.
“We were actually supposed to race barefoot last week,” continued Melander. “But, there were two scratches in the race and we only had to beat one horse, so we kept the shoes on and saved the feet on him. The track was amazing today and it was an easy decision.”
Like Jamieson, Melander approached the Maple Leaf Trot final with confidence noting that he wasn’t surprised at all with the winning effort.
“Not really when we got the one-hole. He showed that he’s been beating these horses before and the horse felt so sharp going into the race,” offered Melander. “He needed a race last week and I was very happy with him this week and he warmed up great. I know he has an extra gear when I pull the shoes, that’s for sure.”
Crazy Wow, bred by Peter Pan Stables Inc. of Ohio, paid $64.20 to win.
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Mets Hall trots clear in Simcoe
MILTON, September 1, 2018 –
Mets Hall found room down the lane and powered away from the field to capture Saturday’s $169,183 Simcoe Stakes, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Trained by Julie Miller for owners Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable, Mets Hall has now won back to back starts since finishing second behind Atlanta in the Hambletonian final. Last time out, Mets Hall captured the Zweig Memorial Trot at Vernon Downs and with the Simcoe score sets himself to be the favourite in the upcoming Canadian Trotting Classic eliminations.
Mets Hall blasted off the gate for driver Andy Miller reaching the opening quarter in :27.2, but Alarm Detector (Trevor Henry) and Lawmaker (Anthony MacDonald) were not content to sit down the backstretch with an onrushing Lawmaker marking the half in :55.3.
Alarm Detector popped the pocket at the top of the lane, but Mets Hall was not to be denied with a menacing move and powered home in a quick 1:52 flat, equalling his lifetime mark. Run Director (Sylvain Filion) arrived late on the scene to complete the exacta at odds of 50-1.
“I wasn’t sure how it would unfold, but I knew I’d be going forward off the gate and sitting up close,” said Miller. “When I got room in the lane there, he just shot by them.
“He likes to be up close,” continued Miller. “Usually when he comes off the last turn, he’s going to trot home.”
It was the seventh career victory for the son of Cantab Hall who appears to be improving with every start.
“Ever since the Hambo, he’s really showed up and done what we thought he would,” said Miller.
Mets Hall, bred by Winbak Farm in Maryland, banked $84,591 in victory. He paid $4.30 to win.
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Courtesy of Woodbine Mohawk Park Communications
New Image Media photos
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