Woodbine Mohawk Park: Access Now, Beauts Cabaret fastest in Champlain Trots

Grand Circuit season at Woodbine Mohawk Park continued Friday evening with the Grade 3 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old trotters. A total of four Champlain divisions, two open and two for fillies, were held on a clear evening at the Campbellville, Ontario, oval.

William Wellwood Memorial (G1) runner-up Access Now scored a strong win in Friday’s second C$79,000 Champlain Open event.

The gelded son of Walner and driver Bob McClure showed good early speed to get out in front, while 8-5 second choice Detonater Hanover and Tyler Moore would be parked around the first turn as he worked towards the lead. Off a 28 second opener, Detonater Hanover cleared to the front and would put up clips of 57 2/5 and 1:26 4/5 with Access Now following right in behind.

In the stretch, Access Now got by in the sprint home and would prevail by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:53 4/5, trotting his final-quarter in 26 4/5. Detonater Hanover raced well in defeat, while Three Six Zero was third.

Owned by Determination and trained by Luc Blais, Access Now was a hard-closing second in the Wellwood Memorial and has taken big steps in his development.

"He had all the tools; he was just lacking maturity," said McClure. "He seemed to click in the Wellwood and five more steps he wins that race. Even tonight, moving off Tyler's (Moore) back, that's a fast horse, and I wasn’t sure this guy would go by. I moved him over and he took off trotting.

"Luc (Blais) does a good job with them and they've done a great job with him. It's all clicking now and an exciting time of the year for him to be this sharp."

The Champlain victory improves Access Now’s record to two wins and six top-three finishes from seven starts. His earnings jump to C$211,130 with the win. Access Now paid $3.10 to win.

The first C$78,000 division of the Champlain Open saw King Of The South spark a 16-1 upset for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Scott McEneny. The gelded son of King Of The North got away fourth in the field of six and was first to pull entering the far turn, edging up to a few lengths off the lead turning for home.

King Of The South kept on trucking down the lane and was a clear winner by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:54 1/5, trotting a final quarter in 27 1/5. Mahalo finished second off a two-hole trip, while 7-5 favorite Grand Manalishi was third.

Taking a step up from the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots, King Of The South had one win and five top-three finishes in seven starts going into Friday.

"I actually just threw him in hoping there would be two small fields and he'd get a check,' said McEneny post-race. "He raced good last week first-up, and he won the week before...he's been coming around and he went a big trip tonight."

King Of The South knocked over three seconds off his previous career-best. He's now earned C$64,700 for owners McEneny, Varsakis Racing, Cantucky Farms Inc. and Martwest Racing Stable. A $2 win ticket returned $34.

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On the filly side, Beauts Cabaret was all business in posting a stakes record-equaling victory of 1:53 1/5 in the first C$87,000 Champlain Filly Trot division.

The Steve Bossence trainee and driver Doug McNair pushed to the front and never looked back, posting fractions of 27 4/5, 57 and 1:25 1/5. Dreamtrade rallied from second-over to finish second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the 1:53 1/5 mile. Treasure King was third.

A daughter of International Moni, Beauts Cabaret showed an impressive rebound from a break in the Grade 1 Peaceful Way final to win the Champlain.

"We got jammed up in the last turn and made a break; not saying she would've won, but she would've got a good piece of it," said McNair. "She's pretty full of herself there up front...when I called on her she gave me another gear...it's an impressive mile."

Stephen Palermo, Jeff Ruch and Bossence share ownership of Beauts Cabaret, who now has three wins in six starts and C$74,430 earned. Beauts Cabaret paid $12.20 to win.

The mile of 1:53 1/5 matched the stakes mark set by Righteous Resolve (Paul MacDonell/John Bax) in 2022.

Race favorite Major Contender and driver Jody Jamieson made multiple moves to win the C$87,000 second Champlain Filly division in 1:54 4/5.

With co-favorite Dataprivacy making a break at the start, the action ramped up and saw multiple lead changes throughout. Elusive Station trotted out to the lead for a 27 2/5 opener, while Carl Jamieson trainees Major Contender and Rebel Moon got away fourth and fifth.

Major Contender marched up to the top ahead of the half, but the lead didn't last for long as stablemate Rebel Moon followed and would clear to command just after a 57 4/5 clocking. Jamieson and Major Contender weren't taking any chances in the two-hole, angling out just before three-quarters. Rebel Moon reached the third marker in 1:26 4/5.

In the stretch, Major Contender muscled by her stablemate and pushed home nicely to win in 1:54 4/5. Rebel Moon just held on for second over Elusive Station and Twin B Kingsley.

A daughter of King Of The North, Major Contender picked up her third win of the season and second consecutive. Jamieson was very happy with the latest effort.

"I didn't really want to move that early. Rebel Moon is a heck of a filly, but I didn't want to have to wait in case someone came to my wheel. I just wanted to make sure I had a clear shot," said Jamieson. "About 10 steps later I thought I had Rebel Moon and was hoping no one else was coming from the back. It was awesome, Rebel Moon was still second and this filly, to me it was the best-case scenario."

Carl Jamieson, 1140545 Ontario Limited, David Lemon and George Harrison share ownership of Major Contender. A winner of multiple OSS Gold legs, Major Contender now has C$205,033 in earnings.

She paid $5.20 to win.

Stakes action continues Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Rookie pacers will be in the spotlight for the Grade 3 Champlain, while 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings clash in the Grade 3 Simcoe. An OSS Gold leg for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters is also on the agenda. Post time is 6:30 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--