Woodbine Mohawk Park: Elims held for Wellwood Memorial, Peaceful Way

Eliminations for the first major Grand Circuit tests of the season for 2-year-old trotters, the William Wellwood Memorial for colts and geldings and the Peaceful Way for fillies, occurred on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna won the first two of the three C$30,000 William Wellwood Memorial elims with Winter Solider and Mars Hill. Winter Soldier was fourth at three-quarters in his elim but got around My Way (Tim Tetrick) when he broke on the lead past that marker and rallied to a 2 1/4 length win in 1:55 2/5 while Mars Hill took command past the 29 1/5 quarter in his trial and went on a three length decision in 1:55 1/5.

Also making the final from those eliminations were Send It In Hanover (Sylvain Filion), Masstercraft (Trevor Henry), Amazing Catch (Ake Svanstedt) and Top Mast (James MacDonald). The fourth-place finisher in the dash won by Winter Soldier was Finite (Chris Christoforou), and he drew into the final by lot.

"He's a really good boy. He travels along and he sits on a helmet nice," McCarthy said of Winter Solider. "I was in a bit of a sticky spot there for a second, but it all worked out. Right now he just wants to beat horses. He loves picking a target and going by them."

Winter Soldier, a Face Time Bourbon colt, was bred by Order By Stable. Owned by Peter Alagna and Pryde Stables Inc., he has won twice in three outings, has earned C$27,400 and paid $8.70 to win.

"He's nice to drive. If anything, just a touch on the lazy side," Alagna stated about Mars Hill. "Andy had to kind of keep him to task on the front, which is exactly what you want."

The victorious Muscle Hill colt was bred by owner Willow Oak Ranch and has a record of 3-0-0 from four tries. He has made C$45,000 and returned $8.90 to win.

T C I (David Miller) brushed from the three-hole to the point passing the 56 4/5 half and maintained control from there to win the final Wellwood elimination in 1:54 1/5. Soar Higher (MacDonald) closed well for second, with Bryant Bros S (Svanstedt) third. Thinker Monkey (Tetrick) grabbed fourth.

"So far he's done everything just right. He's been racing well and I couldn't have been happier to get him," Miller remarked. "He's really nice. He's very handy. He's pretty smart. He's starting to get a little aggressive now with more racing, but other than that, you can't fault him."

A Cantab Hall colt bred by Concord Stud Farm, T C I is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He has five wins and a second from six appearances, has banked C$115,970 and paid $2.40 to win.

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Drawn Impression (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Tandem Hanover (Dexter Dunn) converted second-over trips into wins in their respective C$30,000 Peaceful Way eliminations. Drawn Impression stopped the teletimer in 1:54 and defeated Graceful Design (McCarthy) by 2 1/4 lengths. Tactical Strike (MacDonald), Vanjie Blue Chip (McNair) and Woman Of Passion (Todd Ratchford) also moved on to next Saturday's final.

"So far it's been three times (two races and a qualifier) I've sat behind her and every time she impresses me more and more," Roy offered. "I just hope she keeps that way and keeps impressing me next week and through the end of the summer."

Luc Blais trains Drawn Impression, who is by Muscle Hill and is the first foal out of two-time Breeders Crown champion Emoticon Hanover, for owner/breeder Determination. She has put away C$23,500 to go with a two-for-two record and returned $4.30 to win.

Tandem Hanover found a seat from post eight, followed cover from Go For Gaagaa No (Yannick Gingras), and used a 28 4/5 final kicker to propel her to a 2 1/2 length triumph over Willys Home Run (MacDonald). Draw The Line (Tyler Jones), Cool Ma Belle (Bob McClure) and Stubborn Chee (Tetrick) also got spots in the championship.

"She was good and she was really relaxed, which is really key for her," relayed Dunn. "She was pretty good on the front, too, so it's always easier when that happens."

Purchased for $510,000 from Hanover Shoe Farms at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, Tandem Hanover is a Walner filly co-owned by trainer Andrew Harris in partnership with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. Tandem Hanover made her second appearance in the winner's circle, has stashed away C$37,000 and paid $13.30 to win.

Here are the draws for the finals:

C$620,000 William Wellwood Memorial

1-Bryant Bros S
2-Soar Higher
3-Mars Hill
4-Winter Soldier
5-Top Mast
6-T C I
7-Amazing Catch
8-Send It In Hanover
9-Finite
10-Masstercraft
AE-Jack N Abs

C$425,000 Peaceful Way

1-Willys Home Run
2-Tandem Hanover
3-Draw The Line
4-Woman of Passion
5-Drawn Impression
6-Vanjie Blue Chip
7-Cool Ma Belle
8-Graceful Design
9-Stubborn Chee
10-Tactical Strike
AE–Internationalmodel