Woodbine Mohawk Park: Atlanta, Manchego set for battle in Casual Breeze

As a driver, Scott Zeron looks for every edge possible to win a race. On Friday night, Zeron’s edge may come in driving the Hambletonian winner Atlanta as she meets Hambletonian Oaks winner Manchego for the first time as sophomores in the C$136,000 Casual Breeze.

“She came out of the Hambletonian in great shape,” said Zeron of Atlanta. “We took it easy with her the first week and trained her back a mile in (1):58 and that should be enough.”

Atlanta drew post three with her rival Manchego landing outside in post eight in the field of 10 for Friday’s encounter at Woodbine Mohawk Park. While post is always an advantage, Zeron may have a few more to work with in that his filly, a daughter of Chapter Seven, is blessed with incredible early speed.

“She just does it so easily,” said Zeron, more than impressed with how quickly Atlanta can shift into high gear. What harness racing found out in the Hambletonian was despite eye-popping fractions in the first heat, it wasn’t Atlanta that was too hot but her driver. “That wasn’t the plan,” Zeron said of the quick fractions in the Hambletonian first heat that saw Atlanta at three quarters in 1:21 1/5 before being caught near the wire.

Adjustments were made for the second heat and Atlanta accomplished what Manchego has failed to do in 2018 and that was score a major victory over male competition.

Manchego enters the Casual Breeze off a nose defeat to Met’s Hall in the Zweig at Vernon Downs last Friday in a race that tactically worked against her. Driver Yannick Gingras accepted a three-hole behind Met’s Hall and Six Pack and then appeared to have good cover on the backstretch. A final quarter of 26 3/5 was simply too much for her to overcome.

Yannick Gingras drives Manchego, a winner in 17 of 20 starts including a record-setting 1:50 Hambletonian Oaks victory set on August 4.

While Manchego may have gone faster than Atlanta on Hambletonian Day, she only raced once that afternoon. Zeron believes he may have some other advantages if the perceived activity of Manchego on the track is a detriment to driver Gingras.

“She looks like she can get a little grabby at times,” said Zeron of Manchego. “I don’t know if that’s an issue but it could play to my advantage.”

As for the appearance of Atlanta as just a front-end horse, Zeron doesn’t believe there’s an issue. “I’ve made her into a front end horse,” Zeron said. “Racing her in the New York Sire Stakes I wanted to be on the front to stay out of trouble. She’s comfortable racing that way but I think she would be great racing off of a helmet as well.”

The last time Atlanta and Manchego met on the racetrack was in last year’s Breeders Crown final, a race easily won by Manchego. Clearly Atlanta has improved significantly for trainer Rick Zeron from last year and the presence of these two great fillies together in any race may be the most exciting match-up the sport has had to offer in a long time on the trotting front.

“I think it’s great for the fans,” said Zeron of the match-up.

Zeron will also pilot Triple Crown champion Marion Marauder in the first of two $40,000 elimination races for the Maple Leaf on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

“It’s great to have the opportunity to drive a horse like that,” said Zeron of Marion Marauder. “He’s been exceptional at 2 and 3, and even though he started 10 times last year, he raced well. I think he’s gotten a little better this year.”

Marion Marauder drew the rail in a field of eight and that suits his driver to a tee. “I’m happy where he drew,” said Zeron. “I’m glad he didn’t draw in with Hannelore Hanover and Ariana G.”

The two mares, last seen being upset in the Joie De Vie at Tioga on August 12, join Will Take Charge and Guardian Angel As in the second Maple Leaf elimination heat. Three divisions of the Nassagaweya for juvenile pacing colts will be an opportunity for many freshman pacers to compete on a grander scale. Captain Crunch, a colt from the first crop of Captaintreacherous, is one that Zeron hopes will live up to his potential. “So far I have loved everything about him,” said Zeron, “He hasn’t been tested yet.”

Captain Crunch, trained by Nancy Johansson, was an $85,000 yearling purchase and is out of a half-sister to $3.4 million winner Sweet Lou and $2.7 million earner Bettor Sweet. He drew post seven in the sixth race and first division on Saturday’s card.