By Greg Blanchard

Deweycheatumnhowe should headline this year’s Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk

Mohawk Racetrack is the place to be in September with a host of top stakes events scheduled. More than $6-million in purses will be up for grabs and trotters will be primarily in the spotlight with the $1-million Canadian Trotting Classic and the $700,000 (est.) Maple Leaf Trot leading the way.

The rookie trotters will also be chasing some major cash with the William Wellwood Memorial for colts and the Peaceful Way for fillies also on the docket – each carrying a purse of more than $500,000. Mix in the Ontario Sires Stakes, the Champlain Stakes and the Simcoe Stakes and it all adds up to an explosive month of racing.

Saturday, September 6th is potentially a huge day on the calendar as Somebeachsomewhere is one of the three-year-old colt pacers eligible to the Simcoe Stakes that night. Heading into the month of August, co-owner/trainer Brent MacGrath was toying with the idea of entering ‘The Beach’ in the Confederation Cup at flamboro downs and was considering the Simcoe – three weeks later – as a prep for the Lexington fall meet.

There may not be many more opportunities to see this season’s Pepsi North America Cup winner in action and we are keeping our fingers crossed that he enters the Simcoe so fans can get another live look at one of the best pacing colts to come along in decades.

Speaking of superstars, Somebeachsomewhere’s trotting counterpart, Deweycheatumnhowe, is the headliner for this year’s Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday, September 13th. The eliminations on September 6th will mark just the third start on Canadian soil for the trotting phenom who captured his elimination and the $660,050 final of the Valley Victory in late October at Woodbine.

It was his richest win of the year and helped vault him to an undefeated 10-for-10 season and more than $922,000 in purse winnings. He has been perfect in his first three starts this season, including a victory in the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial, and was heavily favoured entering this year’s Hambletonian.

The Canadian Trotting Classic is our nation’s equivalent to the Hambo and has always drawn the sport’s biggest names. Last year, it was the incomparable Donato Hanover taking home the hardware as part of his 11-win campaign which saw him bank more than $2.3-million.

Other greats who have had their name engraved on the Canadian Trotting Classic trophy include: Joie De Vie, Armbro Goal, Yankee Paco, Kadabra, Mr Muscleman, Windsongs Legacy and Majestic Son. If you are one who likes to star gaze, make sure to visit Mohawk this September. They will be out in full force!

Dynamic Duo Break Out the Heavy Artillery
By Greg Blanchard

Santanna Blue Chip with driver Jody Jamieson winning the Governor’s Cup

You just know that the summer stakes season is in full swing when you start seeing the names Carl Jamieson and Bob McIntosh dotted all over the Mohawk race program.

In what has become a rite of passage, the two WEG veterans are known for unveiling a brigade of rookie performers at this time of year. Of course complimenting their sophomore performers which are always prominent in both the Ontario Sires Stakes and Grand Circuit stakes races.

This summer is no exception.

The Jamieson stable is once again loaded for bear, led by top three-year-old pacing colt Santanna Blue Chip. The son of Art Major was the richest rookie pacer in the sport in 2007 with more than $900,000 earned and has been a force again this season.

He has already finished third in the $1.5-million Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk and second in the $538,000 Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers, vaulting him to $1.3-million in career earnings.

Jamieson’s freshmen entourage is an impressive one that includes Shes A Fan, an Artiscape filly who won her first four career starts and Chief Of The Beach, a son of Real Desire who kicked off his season with two straight impressive victories, including a 1:56.2 tally in the Bud Lite Stakes at flamboro downs.

The Nova Scotia native’s two-year-old juggernaut also includes: Windsong Filou, World Away, Riopelle, Stampede Seelster, Artists Rally, Windsong Fortune, Check On Jack, Pence Hanover and Western Heart. By the third week of July, the Jamieson barn had already amassed close to $1-million in purses while posting an impressive average of .342. If he keeps up those numbers, Jamieson will once again position himself for a shot at Canada’s Trainer of the Year title.

McIntosh - a multiple O’Brien Award winner - is on pace for another big season. Over the same period this year, the Lasalle-based conditioner had sent forth 98 winners with purses totaling more than $1.2-million and a hefty U.T.R.S. of .361.

The surprise of the stable has been three-year-old pacing colt The Mohegan Pan, a son of No Pan Intended who won one of 12 races last year and just over $189,000. In contrast, the compact pacer started off his sophomore campaign with four wins in his first five outings and $90,000 in earnings, including a 1:50 score in a Canadian Breeders Championship elimination.

McIntosh also campaigns the two-year-old full brother to The Mohegan Pan who goes by the name of Nebupanezzar. The speedy youngster won two of his first three starts including the initial OSS Gold event of the season at Mohawk.

Other notables from the McIntosh camp this year include: three-year-old pacing colts Lisfinny, Intrepid Hero and Stonebridge Magnum, older pacing mare Arts A Flutter, sophomore filly Pasadena Princess and rookie performers West Of L A, Go West Lucky Cam, Windsong Soprano, Panjour Monsieur and Whipperosa, just to name a few.

With so many major events like the Champlain, Simcoe, OSS and Fall Four coming on the WEG circuit in the next couple of months, expect to see Bob McIntosh and Carl Jamieson front and center as they look to continue their local stakes dominance.

Three-year old pacing colt The Mohegan Pan