Woodbine Mohawk Park: Melander, Tetrick dominate stakes action

It was a big Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the Marcus Melander barn and for driver Tim Tetrick as Green Manalishi won the C$174,503 Simcoe Stakes for sophomore male trotters and Back Of The Neck and Capricornus gave Melander a sweep of the eliminations for the William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Three-year-old filly trotters also squared off in a pair of Simcoe flights, with Hambletonian Oaks champion When Dovescry winning one and Sister's Promise the other.

Green Manalishi (Tetrick) was the 2-5 favorite in the Simcoe, but he was fourth through opening-half fractions of 27 3/5 and 57 set by Union Forces (Yannick Gingras) and All Wrapped Up. Tetrick had Green Manalishi out an on the move first-up on the far turn, but he still had work to do at the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters as All Wrapped Up stayed in front.

Through the lane it looked like All Wrapped Up might be able to knock off Green Manalishi, but the public choice found his best gear in the last sixteenth and got up for the win by a head in 1:53. Union Forces wound up finishing in third.

"I thought I messed up there when I let them get over to the half too slow, and I was a little far back. I had to come a little early there going to the half, but my horse sat out there, and he put his nose out when it was time," said Tetrick. "I was a little worried at the top of the lane, but halfway down the lane he started kicking in. Right by the tote board he took off for me, and I knew I was going to get him.

"Second-over would be great on a fast flow, but every time I've won with him I've won with him first-up. I did win last year here on the front with him, but I think he likes chasing better this year."

Melander trains Green Manalishi, a Swedish-bred Muscle Hill colt, for owner Courant Inc. This was Green Manalishi's ninth career win, and he has now earned C$945,883. He paid $2.80 to win.

Melander pupil Back Of The Neck, driven by his brother Mattias, won the first C$30,000 Wellwood Memorial elim in 1:55. He cut fractions of 28, 58 3/5, and 1:26 4/5, then kept clear through the lane to win by a length and a half over Port Perry (Bob McClure). Beyond Kronos (Dexter Dunn), Nylander (James MacDonald), and Hetalkstoangels (Chris Christoforou) also moved on to the final.

"Every start he races he's been developing more and more, and I'm very happy with him. I was on him a little bit, but I think I had some left," remarked Mattias Melander. "You've got to be a little careful with him the first quarter. He can get a little over-excited, and if you grab him too much he can act up."

Breeder Order By Stable co-owns Back Of The Neck, a Ready Cash-Big Barb colt, with Howard and Judith Taylor. Back Of The Neck has won three times from his five opportunities, and he now shows earnings of C$56,845. He was the 9-5 second choice and returned $5.80 to win.

The other Wellwood Memorial elim saw Moon Bridge (Sylvain Filion) clear to the lead passing the 27 4/5 first quarter, but Synergy (Gingras) re-moved on him past that marker. Synergy would click off a soft half of just 58 seconds, and the pace didn't really quicken around the last turn as Melander-trained Capricornus (Tetrick) ranged up first-over to the 1:27 three-quarters.

Capricornus overtook Synergy for the lead in the stretch, but 29-1 shot HP Royal Theo (Roy) fanned out three-wide from second-over and challenged Capricornus all the way to the wire. Capricornus fought him off, though, winning by a neck in 1:55 1/5. Moon Bridge was the third-place finisher, with Blue Cupertino (Trevor Henry) fourth and Synergy fifth.

"He's a real nice colt. I think he has showed that already. He's doing some really nice races before this, and he showed tonight as well that he is a really good horse," said Marcus Melander. "I really liked what I saw. He really dug in all the way. He's got a really good attitude, and that's really important. He's a really nice-gaited horse, and he's a pleasure to drive.

"It was very important for us to win the eliminations. We can choose our post positions, otherwise you never know what you draw. I'm really happy with both my colts tonight."

Capricornus, a Cantab Hall-Oh My Darlin colt, is owned by Jj Stable. Capricornus now has a trio of wins from six starts, and he has pocketed C$96,770. He was the 8-5 even-money favorite and paid $4.10 to win.

When Dovescry (Simon Allard) made her first start since winning the Hambletonian Oaks in the opening C$85,029 Simcoe division for sophomore trotting fillies. She went to the front from post two and got away with soft panels of 28 3/5, 58 4/5, and 1:27 4/5, with Special Honor (Gingras) in the pocket and Evident Beauty (David Miller) tucking in third.

In the lane it looked like When Dovescry might be vulnerable as she came under urging, and Evident Beauty was ranging up after fanning out three-wide. Evident Beauty made a break in the last eighth, though, taking her out of contention and allowing When Dovescry to get home a 1:54 4/5 winner. She defeated Special Honor by a pair of lengths, with Evident Beauty third.

"I got lucky. She didn't race for a little while, so we needed a race. We ended up winning, so that's great," offered Allard. "She's been good all along. Sometimes the good horses they just do everything right and everything works out for them. She's great, and we hope she keeps going that way."

While in Canada, Carmen Auciello is training When Dovescry, a daughter of Muscle Hill, for owners Go Fast Stable, Yves Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh, and Lawrence Dumain. She now has a record of 8-4-2 from 14 trips behind the gate, and she pushed her bankroll to C$618,764. The 6-5 second choice, she returned $4.50 to win.

Sister's Promise (Tetrick) pulled the upset in the other C$86,028 Simcoe, going all way on the lead and halting the clock in 1:53 4/5 at odds of 9-1. She was the boss through stations of 28 2/5, 57 4/5, and 1:25 3/5, got some separation on the last turn and into the lane, and lasted over a closing The Ice Dutchess (Gingras) to prevail by three-parts of a length. Bright Eyes M (Steve Byron) came in third.

"Going into it I thought if I got a second or third it would be really good. She's always had enough talent; she's just never been able to put it all together," stated Tetrick. "Linda (trainer Linda Toscano) and the crew had her ready tonight. I jumped off the car, got an easy first eighth, and then kind of cruised to the half. I stepped on the gas, and she held off The Ice Dutchess late.

"I felt pretty good at the top of the lane because when I called on her there and I pulled her plugs, she gave me a two or three length jump on them. I said 'well, this is good,' just had to hold off The Ice Dutchess."

Toscano trains Sister's Promise, a filly by Father Patrick, for owner Brittany Farms LLC. Sister's Promise made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now collected C$192,109. She paid $20.20 to win.

Here is how the field will line up for next Saturday's C$370,000 William Wellwood Memorial final:

1 – Blue Cupertino
2 – Hetalkstoangels
3 – Back Of The Neck
4 – Capricornus
5 – HP Royal Theo
6 – Nylander
7 – Moon Bridge
8 – Port Perry
9 – Beyond Kronos
10 – Synergy
AE – Your Still Up