Woodbine Mohawk Park: Dazzling comeback for Alrajah One in Maple Leaf Trot

It's Academic entered Saturday's C$530,000 Maple Leaf Trot as the dominant older trotter in the sport, but that was before Alrajah One came back from a year away from the racetrack. The return of the 7-year-old who was unbeaten in three starts in 2022 and was scratched from last year's Maple Leaf Trot proved too much for It's Academic in the homestretch, and that Alrajah One trotted to a stakes, track and Canadian record 1:50 2/5 mile was something North American harness fans have never seen.

Driver Dexter Dunn took Alrajah One off the early action as David Miller sent second choice It's Academic sharply to the front ahead of Fashion Frenzie in the opening eighth of a mile. Venerate and Brian Sears ducked in fourth in front of Alrajah One, with It's Academic hitting the opening quarter in 27 seconds flat.

Little changed in the second quarter, with It's Academic on the point through the 55 1/5 opening half, but soon after Venerate took up the chase without cover, and Dunn moved Alrajah One to advance with that live tow. It's Academic was still in control under some dispute at three-quarters in 1:23, but at the top of the stretch he had put away the bid of Venerate and tried to gain separation from the 4-5 favored Alrajah One.

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It's Academic had routinely put away fields he'd faced this year with this kind of trip, but with the return of Alrajah One, he just didn’t have the turn of speed to match the explosive closing power of the Ake Svanstedt-trained son of Maharajah. It's Academic was a clear second, with Rattle My Cage following home in third.

Owned by Scuderia My Horse Inc., Alarajah One won for the 17th time in his career - included in that total are four North American scores, with his Maple Leaf victory as impressive as any previous. Despite the long layoff Alrajah One paid $3.80 for the victory.

"It was an amazing effort," said Dunn. "He doesn't tell you a lot following cover but once you tip him he's gone."