FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

©2020 HORSEMAN PUBLISHING CO., LEXINGTON, KY USA • FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (859) 276-4026 Bettor Sun Getting Better And Better For Metro Elims ACCEPTING ENTRIES There is another stakes-filled card at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, with the night getting started with a pair of $40,000 eliminations of the Metro Pace. While 191 two- year-old male pacers were originally nominated by the Feb. 18 deadline, the number decreased through the sustaining- CHAMPIONS CENTER, SPRINGFIELD, OH fee dates to where the final list showed 148 names. The final May 15 payment deadline came when racetracks across the continent were shuttered due to the covid-19 NOVEMBER 17, 18, 19, 2020 pandemic. While other stakes races at Mohawk saw date changes, the Metro elims and final BLACK TYPE SESSION - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 “If he does what remained as is on the calendar. Black type entries close October 1 he can do, he Surprisingly, when the entry box should get in closed Tuesday morning, race sec- Mixed sale entries close around October 10 (or when full). the final.” retary Scott McKelvie found only a –Gregg McNair dozen horses entered, the mini- Enter online now at mum needed to require elimina- www.bloodedhorse.com tions. The 12 pacers were then divided into the pair of elims, which are scheduled as races 1 and 2. On paper, the Tony Alagna-trained Abuckabett Hanover, riding a three-race win streak that includes a career-best 1:50.3 last time out on Sept. 12 in a Champlain division at

Mohawk, appears the one to beat in the second elim. But “There’s No Substitute for Experience” the road to victory looks like it will have to go through the JERRY HAWS • P.O. Box 187 • Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 Dr. Ian Moore-trained Lawless Shadow, a winner of two Phone: (859) 858-4415 • Fax: (859) 858-8498 • [email protected] straight including a career-best 1:52.1 in an Ontario Sires Stakes in his last start on Sept. 5 at Mohawk. Alagna will have two starters in the first Metro elim, in- Weekend Preview Schedule Update cluding Pirate Hanover, who has a first, third and 10th in three career attempts, and Exploit, who has a pair of wins in We will be sending out special editions of HarnessRac- six starts. Exploit has been racing in Kentucky Sires Stakes ing Weekend Preview in the coming weeks. A special at The Red Mile and was fifth in the standings and would Jug Preview will be available on Wednesday, Sept. 23. have had a spot in Sunday’s $250,000 final, but Alagna de- Next up is the two-week Grand Circuit stand at The Red cided the Metro was a better spot rather than trying to Mile and the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, and we upset heavy Kentucky favorite Perfect Sting, whose perfect will provide extra coverage in special Preview editions five-race resume includes a divisional-best 1:49.2 effort. during that period. Be sure to check your email box or Starting from post 1 in the first elim is Bettor Sun, with go to harnessracing.com for the easy downloads! Sylvain Filion driving for trainer Gregg McNair. A son of Also, don’t forget to look for the popular Backstretch Sunshine Beach, Bettor Sun’s ledger includes a career-best With Gordon column daily on harnessracing.com begin- 1:53.4 win in the $200,964 Battle of Waterloo on Aug. 3 at ning Wednesday, Sept. 30. Continues on page 2 ›››› WHAT’S INSIDE . . . Saturday races at Woodbine Mohawk—pg. 4 Dresden ready for Kindergarten—pg. 10 American Courage abruptly ends 2020—pg. 6 Takter advises Thouroughbred stable—pg. 12 Scott Young gets biggest career win yet—pg. 8 It’s time for Little Brown Jug week!—pg. 16 PA racino business drops in August—pg. 8 USTA advised HISA is unconstitutional—pg. 18 HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 2 of 22 September 18, 2020 www.harnessracing.com Grand River. While Bettor Sun won that race as the 8-5 sec- ond favorite, he sprung a huge surprise in his elim the week FREE THIS WEEKEND’S before when he scored at odds of 36-1. Program “It was a surprise that he won (the final) that fast, but it Pages FEATURED RACES didn’t surprise me that he won because he’s a nice colt and All times listed are local. trained down good,” said McNair, who has now won four Friday, Sept. 18 Battle of Waterloo finals. 2:45p Mea7 Keystone Classic 3CP div. Trackmaster PPs McNair said Bettor Sun’s career got off to a slow start. He 3:25p Mea9 Keystone Classic 3CP div. Trackmaster PPs noted that in his first baby race on July 4 at Mohawk Park, Click here to download all Friday PPs his fourth-place finish race-timed in 2:01.1 didn’t make the grade. Bettor Sun passed his next test on July 4 when he Saturday, Sept. 19 finished second, race-timed in 1:55.3. 7:00p Wbsb1 Metro 2CP elim Trackmaster PPs “He went a fifth too slow and didn’t make the first Grass- 7:25p Wbsb2 Metro 2CP elim Trackmaster PPs roots race,” said McNair. 7:34p Haw2 Molaro Mem. OHP Trackmaster PPs Bettor Sun made his pari-mutuel debut in a Grassroots 8:40p Wbsb5 Can. Trotting Classic 3CT Trackmaster PPs race on July 18 at Mohawk, finishing fourth despite some 9:05p Wbsb6 Milton OMP elim Trackmaster PPs midway road trouble. 9:55p Wbsb8 Milton OMP elim Trackmaster PPs “(Driver Doug McNair) was mad at himself that night,” 10:20p Wbsb9 Elegantimage 3FT Trackmaster PPs said McNair, who shares ownership with Richard Arnold’s 10:45p Wbsb10 She’s A Great Lady elim Trackmaster PPs Willow Oak Ranch in Rogersville, Tenn. “A horse made a 11:10p Wbsb11 She’s A Great Lady elim Trackmaster PPs break and he got shoved three and four wide around the Click here to download all Saturday PPs last turn so he was pretty empty at the wire.” The top-five finishers in each of the six-horse elims will advance to the Metro final on Sept. 26. “He’s a nice enough colt and if he does what he can do, he should get in the final,” said McNair.—By Gordon Waterstone Metro 2CP Woodbine Mohawk Park, Saturday, Sept. 19, 1st $40,000 elimination, Race 1, Post Time: 7:00 pm Post—Horse (Sire) Driver/Trainer Odds Breeder/Yearling Price 1—Bettor Sun (Sunshine Beach) S. Filion/G. McNair 5-2 Willow Oak Ranch/Homebred 2—Highlandbeachsbest (Somebeachsomewhere) T. Henry/A. Fine 8-1 Highland Thoroughbred Farm/Homebred 3—Exploit (Somebeachsomewhere) A. McCarthy/T. Alagna 4-1 M. Robinson, R. Mondillo, S. Cheatham, S. Stewart/$165,000 4—No Better Joy (Betterthancheddar) L. Roy/N. Comenga 6-1 Winbak Farm/$46,000 5—Twin B Fighter (Bettor’s Delight) Y. Gingras/A. Hensley 7-2 Twinbrook Ltd./$140,000 6—Pirate Hanover (Captaintreacherous) D. McNair/T. Alagna 2-1 Hanover Shoe Farms/$100,000 2nd $40,000 elimination, Race 2, Post Time: 7:25 pm Post—Horse (Sire) Driver/Trainer Odds Breeder/Yearling Price 1—Control Heaven (Control The Moment) L. Roy/C. Mitchell 3-1 D. Millard & Spring Haven Farm/$20,000 2—Lawless Shadow (Shadow Play) B. McClure/I. Moore 4-1 Seelster Farms/$52,000 3—Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line) A. McCarthy/T. Alagna 7-5 Hanover Shoe Farms/$160,000 4—Ucanttouchthis (Control The Moment) C. Christoforou/D. Jones 10-1 Tara Hills Stud/$17,000 5—Bayfield Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) Y. Gingras/B. Brown 6-1 Schooner II Stable/$105,000 6—Candy Trader (Bettor’s Delight) S. Filion/A. Beaton 5-1 Fred Kruszelnicki/$72,000 NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 4 of 22 September 18, 2020 www.harnessracing.com Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage Finals Set For Saturday There are two major stakes finals on the Saturday card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, including the $560,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old trotters and the $350,000 Ele- gantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters. The Canadian Trotting Classic (Race 5) field is led by Ready For Moni, who has five wins and a second in six starts this year for trainer Nancy Takter. The son of Ready Cash, who starts from post 6 with driver , finished sec- ond in the Hambletonian to Ramona Hill, but has since won three straight, including a career-best 1: