Woodbine Mohawk Park: Alagna with "Ahundred" on the line in Trotting Classic

Trainer Tony Alagna had to make a difficult decision this past Friday (9/10). Ahundreddollarbill, his extremely talented 3-year-old, was the probable odds-on favorite in the New York Sire Stakes $200,000 final at Yonkers Raceway. Alagna warmed up his horse prior to the race, and that's when the trouble started.

"I could tell warming him up that he was likely tying up," said Alagna. "He's used to being out in the field, and I think the stress of the detention barn was the issue."

Alagna made the call to scratch Ahundreddollarbill but had no qualms about re-entering his horse in Saturday's C$606,500 Canadian Trotting Classic at Woodbine Mohawk Park (race 10).

"I thought it was the right thing to do for the bettors," said Alagna of the scratch. "This has happened with him before earlier this year at the Meadowlands. I entered him right back, and he ran off the screen (winning) in his next start."

Alagna's confidence is understandable given that Ahundreddollarbill, a gelded son of Chapter Seven, has captured seven of his nine starts this year and earned in excess of $381K.

Ahundreddollarbill drew the pole in the Canadian Trotting Classic with regular pilot Andrew McCarthy in the bike. While the race will be his first stake outside of New York this year, Ahundreddollarbill is well-positioned in a field that includes recent Zweig Memorial champion Spy Booth (post seven).

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Spy Booth qualified in preparation for the Canadian Trotting Classic at the Meadowlands last week and faltered after cutting the pace.

"He's not a frontrunner," said Nancy Takter, his trainer. "He's never been on the front and had no idea what to do there."

Last week's Goodtimes champion Fashion Frenzie, a gelded son of Archangel, was truly dominant in the 1:53 2/5 victory. He landed post six with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike.

Alagna's stable will also be well-represented throughout the stakes-filled undercard Saturday night as he sends a pair of 2-year-old pacing fillies in search of a final spot in the rich She's A Great Lady. Two C$35,000 eliminations are in the works, with Queen Of Success (post two) going in the first division (race two) and Boudoir Hanover (post three) among eight fillies in the second split (race three).

"I was very happy with Boudoir Hanover's mile in the Champlain," said Alagna. "She made a big move on the backstretch to try to get away from that good filly [Silver Label] and then got tired. I think she'll benefit from that effort."

As for Queen Of Success, the Captaintreacherous-sired filly has won all four of her starts at The Red Mile in Kentucky Commonwealth events.

"I thought she deserved a chance. She's stepping up, but I think she's ready," said Alagna.

It's been a tough year for Abuckabett Hanover, but Alagna thinks the sophomore by Betting Line may be ready to right the ship in the C$176,815 Simcoe for sophomore pacers.

"I thought his last two races were much better," said Alagna. "He was closing in both races but had no chance because he was so far back."

Abuckabett Hanover drew post seven in Saturday's ninth race that finds just one holdover from last week's C$1 million North America Cup, that being Bettor Sun, who landed post nine.

"I sent both Rockyroad Hanover and Simon Says Hanover to the Jug," said Alagna of his other prominent sophomore male pacers. "Simon Says Hanover broke equipment in the North America Cup."

A field of 12 entered the C$824,000 Metro Pace and all will proceed to the final on September 25. Alagna entered three freshmen from his large stable: Atlas Hanover, Caviart Camden and Nautical Hanover.

"I trained Caviart Camden today (Tuesday) and sent him to Ontario," said Alagna. "He trained great, but without eliminations we'll have to get another training mile into him."

Caviart Camden has the fastest juvenile mile of the year with a 1:48 3/5 victory taken at The Red Mile in Kentucky Sire Stakes on August 24. The colt from the first crop of Huntsville appears the most talented of Alagna's group at this point.

"He's a very fast colt," said Alagna. "I thought this would be a better option for him with Pebble Beach going in the Kentucky Sires Stakes final."

Alagna was referring to the brilliantly-fast Pebble Beach, a colt from the first crop of Downbytheseaside.

Both Atlas Hanover and Nautical Hanover have shown some stakes ability but will need to step up significantly to capture The Metro.

The 13-race Mohawk card kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.