Harness: Melander seeks weekend success at the Meadowlands, Woodbine Mohawk Park

Trainer Marcus Melander has seen his stable go on quite a hot streak in August, and he hopes to conclude the month with another major victory, sending out a pair in Saturday's (August 31) C$600,000 Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The conditioner has an active stable racing in Kentucky and has a string heading to the Meadowlands on Friday in hopes of qualifying for the lucrative New Jersey Classic finals.

With big money riding on Saturday, Melander is north of the border prepping his pair for the showpiece on Saturday's Woodbine Mohawk Park program. Periculum (post five) and Oh Well (post seven) are among the 10 horses contesting the Maple Leaf, which goes as race 10 on the 12-race card.

"He's been good all along," said Melander of Periculum, a 5-year-old by Muscle Hill that captured one of two eliminations a week earlier. "He's been finishing his races strongly but hasn't had much luck. In the invitational at Pocono (August 17) he was first-over a long way and was right there on the wire."

Prior to the Maple Leaf eliminations, the Pocono effort was Periculum's best race, since he started from post eight and was in against Jiggy Jog.

In last week's elimination, Scott Zeron picked up the drive and found a good cover trip for the hard-closing stallion. A strong closing kick catapulted Periculum past a solid field and into the final. Now with five wins in nine starts this year, Periculum will get his biggest test of 2024 in the Maple Leaf.

"He's very sharp right now. He just needs a good trip," said Melander.

As for Oh Well, the $1.5 million winner has gone winless in 2024 in seven tries, but that has not diminished him in Melander's eyes.

"He's a 4-year-old racing against older horses. We've decided to race him differently this year, but he's closed well with some sub-27 final quarters," said Melander.

Oh Well hasn't had much luck with post draws this season, whether facing his own age group or veteran performers. He came home strongly in the Cashman at the Meadowlands but couldn't overcome the post nine draw or a cover flow that never developed.

"I think he can get a piece," said Melander, summing up Oh Well's chances.

Melander's other Maple Leaf contender Venerate appeared on his way into the final last Friday (August 23) when he broke stride on the lead in early stretch and galloped through the wire. Venerate was first to cross the finish line but was disqualified and will miss the final.

"I really don't know why he made the break," said Melander. "We've had him looked over and there are no major issues. He'll be entered in the Charlie Hill at Scioto."

The Hill Memorial goes on September 7.

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As for the Maple Leaf final, Melander's pair face a strong field with Logan Park (post two) and the mare M-M's Dream (post nine) the main contenders. Logan Park was advanced to the top spot after chasing Venerate through much of the mile and then finishing second. A son of Archangel, Logan Park has been a mainstay over the Woodbine Mohawk Park surface for trainer Kyle Fellows, who hands the lines to Doug McNair for Saturday's contest.

M-M's Dream has proven herself time and again against mares, and when trainer Ron Burke put her in the Maple Leaf to tackle the boys, she raced solidly in defeat in the trials for regular pilot Dave Miller. The Indiana-bred daughter of Swan For All has shown enough early speed in the past to indicate that she'll be in the early scrum for position despite the poor draw. First or second in all 10 starts this year, M-M's Dream looks to become the third mare trained by Ron Burke to capture the Maple Leaf, following the hoof-steps of Atlanta (2020) and Hannelore Hanover (2017).

South of the border, Melander has an interesting pair of 2-year-olds looking to qualify for the New Jersey Classic colt and gelding division. Go Boom and Mountcastle are both in the same division (race one) on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

"Go Boom came back sick from the New Jersey Sire Stakes final," said Melander, explaining the poor finish on August 3. "He's come back well but I think he may need a start."

The implication by Melander is that Go Boom is ready to win but likely will be much better for the final.

As for Mountcastle, the trainer was a bit more candid. "He's also missed some time and doesn't have the experience I think he'll need. He's a very fast horse. He was closing even faster than Maryland was in his last race," said Melander, mentioning his William Wellwood Memorial champion in the process.

Speaking of Maryland, the expensive son of Chapter Seven was a drawing-away winner in the Wellwood, and Melander suggested his next stop will be at Harrah's Hoosier Park for the Peter Haughton Memorial (September 13). If all goes well, Melander seemed to be open to a possible next start in the Mohawk Million on September 21.

Melander's stable has been hitting on all cylinders in Kentucky, with the first-year sire Gimpanzee getting a pair of credits this week, including the impressive Luna Lovegood, a 1:51 4/5 season's-best winner at The Red Mile in the $80,000 Kentucky Championship series leg on August 26.

"She went a very strong mile in her first start in Kentucky over a terrible track," said Melander of Luna Lovegood's 1:55 4/5 victory over a horrible Red Mile surface on July 29. "Then the next start she's in the second tier and gets run into. I can understand having that size field for 3-year-olds, but it's a lot to ask 2-year-olds racing maybe their first or second start to deal with it."

Luna Lovegood will remain in Kentucky through the Grand Circuit and is eligible to the Breeders Crown and Goldsmith Maid as well.

Also winning for the second time in three tries at The Red Mile on August 26 was Kadena, the most expensive foal from champion Mission Brief with an $800,000 purse tag at last year's Lexington Selected sale. "She's a big filly and I'm kind of surprised how quickly she's come along," said Melander.

Kadena took a 1:53 4/5 mark with Dexter Dunn in the bike, and the Dunn-Melander tandem has been rock solid this season.

"I approached Dexter before the year and said that I would put him down on my best horses. I know he has other clients as well. It's worked out great so far. Take Maryland, Dexter thought he would benefit from adding a Murphy blind after the Wellwood elimination," said Melander.

The change worked well for the horse and the stable as Dunn had ultimate confidence in Maryland and the horse performed up to expectations.