Woodbine Mohawk Park: Eastie Boy scores in Shalom Hanover-less Metro final

With undefeated and morning-line favorite Shalom Hanover scratched lame before the race, the Grade 1 C$1 million Metro final for 2-year-old male pacers went through elimination winner Eastie Boy, and he took advantage, delivering in a career-best 1:49 2/5 mile.

The full brother (Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer) to $1,763,627 earner and double Dan Patch Award recipient Louprint, Eastie Boy (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) showed speed from post five and cleared TH Theo (Doug McNair) for the lead passing the 27 1/5 quarter. Eastie Boy remained in control to the half in 55 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:22 4/5 while Global Choice (James MacDonald) made progress from first-over on the last turn and TH Theo waited in the pocket.

In the stretch Global Choice faded, which left the race between Eastie Boy and TH Theo. McNair swung TH Theo to the outside and did make some headway, but not enough, as Eastie Boy held sway to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Global Choice wound up third, followed by Rose Run Cowboy (Yannick Gingras) and Cattletracks (Scott Zeron).

"The colt was awesome tonight. I'm proud of him," said Wrenn Jr. "He raced great. Ronnie and Mickey Burke Jr. did a great job with him this week. I was confident I had a lot of go, but it seemed like Dougie had a lot of go, too, so I wasn't sure until I got near the wire. The colt's been racing great all year, and he's peaking at the right time."

A homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Phil Collura, Eastie Boy has a summary of 4-2-1 from nine starts, has earned C$747,653 and paid $3.20 to win as the favorite.

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"It means the world to us. Sweet Lou has been the reason we became breeders," said Burke. "We wanted to support him, and it turned out to be the best thing we ever did because he's supported us all the way. With it being a Sweet Lou, it's always means way more to me than the other horses.

"Louprint, first time we put a harness on him, I told Mark (Weaver) 'he's a killer.' I said this one the whole way, 'he's okay, he's alright,' and then I was like 'he's getting better.' The last couple I was like 'this horse is a real horse.' He doesn't look the best going slow, but once you turn him, his ears go up and he's tough as a nails."

Burke added that Eastie Boy is like to get one Grand Circuit start in Lexington before going on to the Breeders Crown.

"It's unbelievable to have Louprint's brother do it. He's just been super," Collura added. "I feel bad for the Shalom Hanover connections. I know what that feels like because it happened to us in the Meadowlands Pace last year with Louprint. He was super. He raced great. Like Ronnie said, we didn't think he was as good as Louprint, but he's been getting better and better as we go along."