The field includes the defending champion Foiled Again
who will be making his fourth Molson Pace appearance. The eight-year-old
gelding is clearly the veteran in this talented group. In addition to being the
oldest, with more than $3.6 million in earnings, he’s the richest and having
made 153 lifetime starts, he’s definitely the most experienced.
Foiled Again, who finished a close second after a parked
out trip in the fastest of two eliminations last Friday, has drawn post six in
the rich final with his regular pilot Yannick Gingras making the trip to London
once more to guide one of his favourite horses.
Foiled Again is one of three starters in the Molson Pace
final from the powerful Ron Burke stable joining Clear Vision (post two) and
Atochia (post three). Burke has enlisted the services of a pair of very
talented young drivers make the trip to London for the first time to guide the
pair in Matt Kakaley and Jason Bartlett.
Kakaley, who earlier this year became the youngest driver
to reach 2,000 career victories at 23, will be aboard Clear Vision who earned
his way into the final with a victory for John Campbell who will steer Razzle
Dazzle in the final.
Bartlett, 31, will drive Atochia in the final. A winner
of 4,320 races for more than $41 million in his career to date, Bartlett is
familiar with the talented pacer having driven him on several occasions during
his career.
Should one of Burke’s three starters win Friday’s final,
he would become the first trainer to ever win three consecutive Molson Pace
finals since the race was introduced in 1972. Foiled Again took last year’s
event while Won The West was victorious the previous year.
Another trainer with more than one starter in the Molson
Pace final is local Gregg McNair whose Aracache Hanover won his elimination on
Friday night in 1:51 which is just a fifth of a second off the track record.
McNair’s son Doug will be up behind Aracache from post seven while McNair’s
other starter, Stonebridge Tonic, has drawn post eight with Trevor Henry at the
lines.
Henry, the leading driver at The Raceway, and McNair have
partnered before to capture the Molson Pace final with Eagle Luck in the 2008
edition.
The following are brief bios of each of the eight
starters in Friday night’s Molson Pace Final:
1. St Elmo Hero p, 1:49.1 ($499,960)
(br.g., 6, Western Hero ~ Crystal Crickett ~ Cedar Ridge)Life Summary: 52 – 29 – 8 – 6
Owner: John Barnard, Illinois
Breeders: Fair Meadow Farm, Il. & Hoosier Standardbred Farm, In.
Trainer: Meg Crone
Driver: Anthony Haughan
Pedigree Notes: Dam, Crystal Crickett, earned $258,000 in her career. St Elmo Hero is the first of only two foals.
Sale History: Claimed for $8,000 on July 14, 2010 at Balmoral Park Elimination Performance: Third to Clear Vision.
2. Clear Vision p, 3,
1:49.3f ($987,022)
(br.g., 6, Western Hanover ~ Artistic Vision ~ Artsplace)Life Summary: 107 – 18 – 19 - 18
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, The Panhellenic Stable & James Koran, Pa, NY & Ohio
Breeders: Steve Stewart, Francene, Julie & Steve Nash, Kentucky
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Matt Kakaley
Pedigree Notes: First foal of Artistic Vision, a winner of over $644,000 in her career, a half-brother to former Horse of the Year Rock N Roll Heaven ($2.7 million).
Sale History: $180,000 yearling at Lexington Select Sale.
Elimination Performance: Winner in 1:52.2.
3. Atochia p, 1:49s ($1,660,324)
(br.g., 7, Dragon Again ~ Hot Shot Michelle ~ Artsplace)Life Summary: 128 – 27 – 32 - 21
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC & JJK Stables, Pa & Fla.
Breeders: Linda & Lee DeVisser, Mi.
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Jason Bartlett
Pedigree Notes: Dam earned a mark of 1:50.3 and $133,000 in her career and is a half-sister to $1.9 million winner Jennas Beach Boy.
Sale History: $75,000 Yearling 2006 Harrisburg Sale.
Elimination Performance: Second, by a half length, to Clear Vision.
4. Machal Jackson p, 3,
1:50.1s ($370,016)
(br.g., 4, Mach Three ~ Warrawee Cammy ~ Camluck)Life Summary: 60 – 7 – 7 - 10
Owners: Brenda Selwyn Waxman & Yin Yee Wong, Ontario
Breeders: St Lads Farm, Ontario
Trainer: Isaac Waxman
Driver: J.R. Plante
Pedigree Notes: Dam is a three-quarter sister to $609,000 winner Warrawee Flare.
Sale History: $61,000 yearling Canadian Open.
Elimination Performance: Fourth to Aracache Hanover.
5. Razzle Dazzle p, 4, 1:49.3f
($433,899)
(b.g., 5, Real Desire ~ Town Feather ~ Big Towner)Life Summary: 42 – 11 – 7 - 6
Owner: Ira Kristel, Fla.
Breeders: Adam Victor & Son Stable, Gate To Wire Ltd., Delegance Stable, NY, Ohio & NJ.
Trainer: Richie Silverman
Driver: John Campbell
Pedigree Notes: Third foal of the $113,000 winner Town Feather, half-brother to Duke Did It ($244,000) Sale History: $32,000 yearling Lexington Select Sale.
Elimination Performance: Third to Aracache Hanover.
6. Foiled Again p, 1:48.1s
($3,655,856)
(b.g., 8, Dragon Again ~ In A Safe Place ~ Artsplace)Life Summary: 153 – 61 – 38 - 17
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC & JJK Stables, Pa & Fla. Breeders: Barbara Matthews, SC
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Pedigree Notes: Second foal from In A Safe Place p, 3, 1:54.4 ($86,058).
Sale History: $20,000 Yearling 2005 Harrisburg Sale
Elimination Performance: Winner second elimination.
7. Aracache Hanover p, 4, 1:49.1f ($1,143,537)
(br.h., 5, Dragon Again ~ Armbro Cachet ~ Camluck)
Life Summary: 64 – 19 – 12 – 10
Owners: William Switala & James Martin, NY
Breeders: Hanover Shoe Farms, Pa.
Trainer: Gregg McNair
Driver: Doug McNair
Pedigree Notes: First foal from Armbro Cachet p, 3, 1:52.4s ($119,503), a half-sister to Shipps Xpectancy ($526,000).
Sale History: $37,000 Yearling 2008 Harrisburg Sale
Elimination Performance: Winner in 1:51, a tick off the track record.
8. Stonebridge Tonic p, 4, 1:50.1 ($576,289)
(b.h., 5, Camluck ~ Glacier Express ~ Artsplace)Life Summary: 66 – 17 – 7 - 4
Owners: Len Gamble & Gregg McNair, Ontario
Breeder: Angie Stiller, Ontario
Trainer: Gregg McNair
Driver: Trevor Henry
Pedigree Notes: Full or half-brother to Stonebridge On Ice ($397,000), Stonebridge Magnum ($215,158), from a full sister to millionaire Electrical Art.
Sale History: $52,000 yearling Forest City Sale.
Elimination Performance: Fourth to Clear Vision.
