Woodbine Mohawk Park: King Of The North crowned again in Wellwood Memorial

King Of The North lived up to his moniker, proving best once again in the C$640,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night, but the 4-5 favorite didn't do so without giving bettors some anxious moments in the homestretch.

There was action aplenty in the early stages as four horses left the gate with purpose. While favorites King Of The North and Duly Resolved settled in, Periculum, Temporal Hanover, Pretender, and Letsdoit S sprinted hard into the first turn.

Letsdoit S and driver Dexter Dunn were the fastest to the turn and had control in a 28 3/5 opener before Tim Tetrick and Temporal Hanover quarter-moved for the front. The activity continued as Doug McNair took Periculum, the third of three Marcus Melander trainees in the race, on a full sprint to gain control before the half. Unfortunately for McNair, Periculum lost his gait before clearing the lead, and Temporal Hanover remained on top through the 57 2/5 half.

Once the road had cleared, Paul MacDonell put Duly Resolved in motion on a long first-over grind, towing King Of The North, with Mark MacDonald, in second-over position. Duly Resolved was strong and engaged Temporal Hanover on even terms through the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters and then blew right by the leader into the homestretch, opening ground on the field and leaving King Of The North looking for answers.

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Duly Resolved looked in control through the drive as King Of The North began to bear out and lose some ground and Letsdoit S tried to make up ground to the inside. In the late stages, though drifting some, King Of The North found another gear and trotted right by the leader hitting the wire the clear winner in 1:54 2/5. Duly Resolved held on to the place spot, with Letsdoit S third. Temporal Hanover and Esplosione earned the final two checks.

"He got bearing out on me," said MacDonald following the race. "But he had plenty of go. We'll have to get his mouth tweaked."

Trained by Ray Schnittker, King Of The North, a colt from the first crop of Walner and out of the champion mare Check Me Out, is owned by Schnittker-Ward, Arden Homestead, Nolamaura Racing, and Steven Arnold. King Of The North won for the sixth time in seven career starts and earned a spot in the Mohawk Million, which is scheduled on September 25.