Woodbine Mohawk Park: Breaking down the Mohawk Million field

All eyes in the Standardbred racing world will be on Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (9/24) as the track hosts five major stakes and dishes out purses totaling C$3.67 million. The 13-race card which kicks off at 7:00 PM also offers bettors the chance to play into big pools via a pair of $100,000 Guaranteed Pick 5s in races one and six.

The highlight of the evening is the Mohawk Million for 2-year-old trotters in race 10 and Oh Well was installed as the 2-1 morning-line choice. Nine owners paid C$100,000 each to own slots for the C$1,000,000 race. Each slot-holder had the choice to enter their own horse in the Mohawk Million or make arrangements with another owner to use the entry. In addition, a tenth spot in the million-dollar race was awarded to the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial on August 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

► GET FREE HARNESS EYE PPS FOR SATURDAY'S CARD

► GET FULL-CARD ANALYSIS FOR SATURDAY'S CARD

► BET WOODBINE MOHAWK PARK NOW

Below is the field for the Mohawk Million along with commentary on each horse's path and chances of success.

1-OH WELL (2-1) (C--Muscle Hill) / 5-3-2-0 (1:53 1/5 - Med)
Trainer: Marcus Melander / Driver: Tim Tetrick
Owner(s): S R F Stable / Hunterton & Partner Slot
Last Start: Won NJ Classic at The Meadowlands on 9/16

Here is your Mohawk Million favorite! After being freshened up during August, the Muscle Hill colt came back and easily handled a decent field in the New Jersey Classic when he certainly could've come up short. It would be shocking if he didn't improve in his second start back from the six-week break in action and he's versatile enough to win on or off the pace.

2-PROUD TO BE LINDY (15-1) (F--Muscle Hill) / Record: 6-0-3-1 (2:02 1/5Q - Wbsb)
Trainer: John Bax / Driver: Chris Christoforou
Owner(s): Bax Stable, Glengate Farms / Brad Grant slot
Last Start: 2nd in Champlain at Mohawk on 9/15

She's winless in her career and seems like a stretch in this spot, but at least her most recent effort was encouraging. While she lost by more than six lengths it was to perhaps the best 2-year-old trotting filly in training and a horse that would've been one of the favorites had her owners decided to enter. A check seems like her ceiling here.

3-OH LOOK MAGIC (5-1) (C--Lookslikeachpndale) / Record: 7-4-0-1 (1:54 4/5 - Wbsb)
Trainer: John Bax / Driver: Matt Bax
Owner(s): Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, The Cavalier Stable / Glengate Farms slot
Last Start: Won Champlain at Mohawk on 9/15

Bax trainee had some bad luck along the way but finally was able to truly shine last week in the Champlain with a new career-best effort. His early speed makes him dangerous here, but I can't help but think it also gets him in trouble in a spot like this one where multiple horses to his outside could be firing out. He can be viewed as a mid-priced contender to pull off an upset.

4-Yo Beth D (10-1) (F--Helpisontheway) / Record: 7-5-1-0 (1:54 3/5 - HoP)
Trainer: Todd Luther / Driver: Trevor Smith
Owner(s): Black Magic Racing LLC / Doug Overhiser slot
Last Start: Won IN Sire Stakes at Hoosier on 9/13

Team Luther bought this gal from Verlin Yoder and she has certainly kept her form, winning two of three starts and setting a lifetime mark. She was asked most of the stretch in her latest start and barely held on with just a 29 4/5 final quarter, but I'd expect her to be better this week. Indiana-bred is a contender on her best.

5-HASTY BID (10-1) (G--My MVP) / Record: 6-2-1-1 (1:55 3/5 - Wbsb)
Trainer: Paige Austin / Driver: James Macdonald
Owner(s): 1000063663 Ontario Inc, Paige Austin / Steve Heimbecker slot
Last Start: 4th in Ont Sire Stakes Gold at Flamboro on 9/4

This guy doesn't jump off the page as one of the leading contenders but maybe there is more than meets the eye here. A quick look into his past performances show a number of uncovered or "poor cover" trips. The one time he worked out a pocket journey the result was an easy win and it isn't like he laid over the field since he was 6-1. Perhaps there is some upset appeal here.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

6-WINNERS BET (5-2) (C--Walner) / 6-3-2-1 (1:54 1/5 - Wbsb)
Trainer: Domenico Cecere / Driver: Dexter Dunn
Owner(s): Lindy Farms of Conn, Robert Rudolph / Wellwood winner slot
Last Start: 2nd in Champlain at Woodbine Mohawk Park on 9/15

Wellwood winner earned his way into this race. He was stuck in post 10 last week and was out the first quarter and during a backside brush to the front. Did that tough trip give him an excuse for getting caught late in the mile? Perhaps. His Wellwood win was off a perfect trip and he may wind up being a slight underlay come post time, though he can win if he improves a touch.

7-SILLY ME HANOVER (15-1) (F--Walner) / 5-2-0-2 (1:56 1/5 - Wbsb)
Trainer: Luc Blais / Driver: Bob McClure
Owner(s): Determination / Determination slot
Last Start: 3rd in Champlain at Mohawk on 9/15

Filly had some late kick last time after nearly four weeks on the sidelines, so maybe there is some improvement coming. If anyone can get her to peak on Saturday it is trainer Luc Blais. She's clearly a longshot in here but one that could get into the exotics with improvement.

8-DWS POINT MAN (8-1) (G--My MVP) / Record: 7-4-2-0 (1:57 - FLD)
Trainer: Richard Moreau / Driver: Louis Roy
Owner(s): Ecurie CSL, 91747998 Quebec Inc / Crawford Farms slot
Last Start: Won Ont Sire Stakes Gold at Flamboro on 9/4

Gelding is perfect in two starts since shipping north and moving into the Moreau barn. That said, he may need to find as many as four to five seconds in order to compete on Saturday. He has early speed, so that's a plus.

9-WHAT AN ANGEL (15-1) (C--Archangel) / 10-1-3-1 (1:59 - Wbsb)
Trainer: Desiree Jones / Driver: Mark Macdonald
Owner(s): Gino Toscani / Gino Toscani slot
Last Start: 3rd in Champlain at Woodbine Mohawk Park on 9/15

Colt has started the most times in the field but hasn't had a ton of success. His last start where he displayed some speed at both ends of the mile was encouraging, but he has a long row to hoe from an outside post on Saturday and seems likely to be the longest shot on the board.

10-CRANTINI (6-1) (C--International Moni) / 7-3-2-0 (1:56 2/5 - Phl)
Trainer: Megan Scran / Driver: Yannick Gingras
Owner(s): Thestable Crantini Group / Thestable.ca slot
Last Start: 8th in Champlain at Mohawk on 9/15

He's had some issues before around the gate and that's what happened in the Champlain last time. The good news is that he made up a ton of ground, most of it in a 27-second third quarter. The post offers up some obstacles to overcome but the ability seems to be there, as should the price at post time.