Woodbine Mohawk Park: Metro elims won by Save America, Tip Top Cat

The two C$40,000 Metro Pace eliminations for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park saw a heavy favorite, Save America, and a long shot, Tip Top Cat, emerge victorious. The top five finishers from each division qualified for next Saturday's C$900,000 Metro final.

In 2018 Stag Party was an impressive winner in the Metro Pace final, and his little brother Save America is looking to make that a family tradition after capturing the first test.

In that division the lead changed hands several times, with Huntinthelastdolar on the front at the 27 1/5 opener. Aces Of Aces popped out to grab the lead by the 56 second half, but he was covered up immediately by Moment Is Here.

First-up at that point was favorite Save America, who was at the leader's wheel by the 1:22 4/5 third panel. Those two rookies battled down the lane, with Save America taking over in the late going to win in 1:49 4/5. Moment Is Here held strongly for second, with Ace Of Aces taking third. The final two to qualify for the final were Huntinthelastdolar and Gung Ho.

A son of Captaintreacherous owned by the 3 Brothers Stable and Caviart Farms and trained by Nancy Takter, Save America now has four wins in five starts this year for C$188,000 earned.

Despite coming into the contest riding a three race winning streak, the last two also Grand Circuit events at Mohawk, Gingras said that in tonight's effort Save America finally felt like the colt he first started driving in the spring.

"The first couple of starts here (at Mohawk) he was a little bumpy at times; last week he was too aggressive on top of that. Tonight, I got the horse back that I really liked in the spring baby races. He was a gentleman to drive, two fingers. I did whatever I wanted with him with no steps," he explained.

"He was loaded with pace tonight; he only won by a length, but I never really called on him, didn't kick the plugs. It was a crazy-good mile, especially off a half in 56 seconds, and I was sitting at least five lengths back. He was the colt I thought I had at the beginning of the year; I loved him. They're babies, you have to tinker with them and change a few things. Nancy found the key to him, and it was great tonight."

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In the second elimination all eyes were on Stockade Seelster, who came into the contest undefeated in six starts to date. Unfortunately, that streak ended tonight.

With Jody Jamieson in the bike, Stockade Seelster had some company when he hit the opening panel in 27 seconds, but Tickertape Hanover and Dexter Dunn wisely tucked behind him and was sitting in the pocket when the half was hit in 55 seconds. There was lots of action in the back-field when Stockade Seelster hit the three-quarters in 1:23.

Down the stretch, Jamieson had the ear plugs popped on Stockade Seelster, who had company on both sides of him in Tickertape Hanover on the outside and Tip Top Cat on the inside. In the late going Doug McNair slid Tip Top Cat up the inside and on by Stockade Seelster and hit the wire first in 1:50 1/5.

Tickertape Hanover also managed to get in front of Stockade Seelster, who had to settle for third for the first time in his young career. Captain Batboy and Ants Marching also qualified for the rich final.

"He's always been a stop-and-go type colt; they liked him training down. I didn't really like him two starts ago; he never really paced through the wire. Last week, he raced very good. He got a big last quarter, and he showed he's a pretty nice colt," noted Doug McNair, the colt's regular driver for his dad, Gregg, who trains for owners Scott Horner and Timothy Murray.

"Around the last turn he felt really good; there were two nice colts he was following. I just wanted to get him qualified for the final. I wasn’t expecting to win. I've been watching (the Metro) since I was a little kid, and it's great to be in it, too. The Metro would be a feather in Dad's cap. It would be really special, but we have a long way to go yet."

A son of Always B Miki, Tip Top Cat was recording the second win from six starts in his young career.

The draw for the Metro final will be held on Monday during the simulcast pre-game show. The C$900,000 final will be contested next Saturday night, Canada's richest night of racing anchored by the Mohawk Million.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--