Woodbine Mohawk Park: Guardian Angel AS delivers in Maple Leaf Trot

Guardian Angel AS scored the biggest win of his career thus far in Saturday night's C$600,000 Maple Leaf Trot for free-for-allers at Woodbine Mohawk Park, tying the Canadian, track, and stakes record of 1:50 4/5.

Manchego (Andy McCarthy) launched away from post seven and was in front at the 26 4/5 opening quarter, but driver Tim Tetrick) sent Guardian Angel AS to the outside from third, and he would clear to command in the backstretch.

After seizing the top spot, Guardian Angel AS would go on to hit the half in 55 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:23, with Crystal Fashion (David Miller) moving into second on the rim at that latter marker after coming first-over from fourth past the half. Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) grabbed that cover to sit second-over, but starting from post ten, she had been two-wide the whole way.

Crystal Fashion couldn't make up any more ground through the stretch drive, but Atlanta came to the outside off the cover and took a run at the pace-setting Guardian Angel AS. It wasn't meant to be for her, though, as Guardian Angel AS kept her at bay to score by half a length. Marion Marauder (Scott Zeron) rallied from eighth at three-quarters to get third, followed by Crystal Fashion and Speeding Spur (Jody Jamieson).

"I got away in a real good spot there early, then I had to make a decision whether or not to quarter pole (move)," remarked Tetrick. "I thought my horse was the best tonight. I really did off last week's performance, and he proved that he was. My horse, when he's on the front he relaxes a lot, and then when he sees one coming, he keeps going. That's always a good thing for me. I can let him relax up there, and when he sees one, he fights and wants to go. I was very confident.

"I've driven this horse off and on for the last two or three years, and I'm a believer in him. I had a tough choice there a couple weeks ago at the Meadowlands when I had to pick off Crystal Fashion, who made a million dollars for me last year. It wasn't an easy deal; he won the Hambletonian Maturity and everything, but I just believed in Guardian Angel, and that's who I went with."

Anette Lorentzon trains Guardian Angel AS, a 5-year-old Archangel stallion, for co-owner/breeder ACL Stuteri AB and co-owner Kjell Johansson. Guardian Angel AS picked up his 23rd career victory, and he has now earned C$1,221,116. The slight 9-5 second choice to Crystal Fashion, Guardian Angel AS paid $5.80 to win.