Woodbine Mohawk Park: Road to the Mohawk Million - Week 5

The inaugural Mohawk Million for 2-year-old trotters is scheduled for September 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Nine owners paid $110,000 each to own slots for the $1,000,000 race. Each slot-holder may enter their own horse in the Mohawk Million or make arrangements with another owner to use the entry. In addition, a tenth spot in the million-dollar race will be awarded to the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial on September 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Below are the Top 10 horses on the Road to the Mohawk Million as rated by DRF Harness Editor Derick Giwner, along with his commentary and that of Woodbine Mohawk Park handicapper Robert Reid Jr.

HORSE	SEX	SIRE	RECORD/BEST WIN TIME	TRAINER	DRIVER	LAST START
Captain Corey	C	Googoo Gaagaa	4-4-0-0 (1:53 3/5 - PcD)	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	Won PASS final at Pocono on 9/5
Macho Martini	C	Muscle Mass	7-7-0-0 (1:54 4/5 - Wbsb)	Luc Blais	Bob McClure	Won Wellwood elim at Mohawk on 9/3
Southwind Tyrion	C	Muscle Hill	4-4-0-0 (1:54 - Med)	Ake Svanstedt	Yannick Gingras	Won Wellwood elim at Mohawk on 9/3
Darlene Hanover	F	Chapter Seven	6-4-1-0 (1:53 4/5 - Lex)	Brett Bittle	Andrew McCarthy	Won KYSS at Red Mile on 9/6
In Range	C	Bar Hopping	6-4-2-0 (1:55 1/5 - PcD)	Marcus Melander	Tim Tetrick	2nd in PASS final at Pocono on 9/5
Cuatro De Julio	C	Trixton	10-8-0-0 (1:51 4/5 -- Lex)	Marie Ortolan Bar	Al Eferstein	Won KYSS at Red Mile on 9/6
Dancinginthedark M	C	Readly Express	4-2-1-0 (1:52 3/5 - Lex)	Marcus Melander	Dave Palone	2nd in KYSS at Red Mile on 9/6
Flawless Country	F	Southwind Frank	6-4-2-0 (1:54 1/5 - PcD)	Ake Svanstedt	Ake Svanstedt	Won PASS final at Pocono on 9/5
Venerate	F	Love You	5-2-0-2 (1:52 4/5 - Lex)	Julie Miller	Andy Miller	Broke in KYSS at Red Mile on 9/6
Donna Soprano	F	Donato Hanover	4-4-0-0 (1:55 1/5 -- WbSb)	Luc Blais	Bob McClure	Won Peaceful Way Elim at Mohawk on 9/3

1-Captain Corey

Owner(s): SRF Stable, Knutsson Trotting, Midnight Sun Partners, Ake Svanstedt

Giwner: Not sure he could've looked any better winning the PASS final at Pocono on Sept. 5. Connections are clearly interested in buying a ticket for the Million but travel concerns due to COVID-19 could be an issue. No decision is coming until after Wellwood final on Sept. 12.

Reid: He is perfect through four starts with two track records on his resume. This colt is the best from south of the border and if he makes the trip, watch out!

2-Macho Martini

Owner(s): Determination

Giwner: Set slow fractions and won in-hand last time to remain perfect. He'll get his biggest test yet in the Wellwood final and a win would free up owner Determination to use his ticket on another horse.

Reid: Seven-for-seven to start his career and has made short work of his competition. He won his elimination for the Wellwood with ease and will face off against the horse below in the final. He has home field advantage and has never been fully extended. Seems like the one to beat.

3-Southwind Tyrion

Owner(s): SRF Stable, Ake Svanstedt, Knutsson Trotting Inc., Brittany Farms LLC

Giwner: Displayed some guts digging in to win his Wellwood elimination after missing a month of action. Very similar ownership to #1, so will be interesting to see what happens if he wins the Wellwood final.

Reid: He completes a fantastic one-two punch for Svanstedt but will have to best a pair of Blais trotters and others to win his way to the Mohawk Million.

4-Darlene Hanover

Owner(s): Yankeeland Partners LLP

Giwner: Brushed to the lead and was an easy winner on Sunday in more of a training mile. Kentucky Sire Stakes final on September 20 likely next.

Reid: She headlines the possible fillies that might make the trip northward.

5-In Range

Owner(s): Amg Stable Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren, Tomas, Asell, Rick Wahlstedt

Giwner: Was a solid yet no-match second behind Captain Corey in the PASS final.

Reid: Took advantage of an ideal trip to be the runner-up to the #1 contender on the list in the PASS championship.

6-Cuatro De Julio

Owner(s): D Farm LLC

Giwner: Debuts on the list after missing Walner's 2-year-old world record by a fifth-of-a-second. He won impressively with #7 on the list bearing down. Unfortunately it seems like he isn't planning on making the trip.

Reid: Rapidly improving son of Trixton who took down two of the top ten contenders on this list this past weekend at the Red Mile in near world-record time. Path to Mohawk Million might be somewhat dubious.

7-Dancinginthedark M

Owner(s): Menhammar Stuteri Ab

Giwner: Rebounded from a break to be a strong second with a 27 1/5 final quarter behind #6 last time. He's plenty talented.

Reid: Appeared to be a notch behind the above contender in his latest effort in a division of the KYSS. Looks to be on the edges.

8-Flawless Country

Owner(s): Ake Svanstedt, Wolfganf A Stable Inc., Borje Nasstrom

Giwner: Worked out a nice trip to win the PASS final for filly trotters. While lacking freaky speed, her game seems as sound as they come.

Reid: Might be a reach for the Mohawk Million, as the connections have others that would rank well ahead of her.

9-Venerate

Owner(s): Pinske Stables, Andy Miller Stable Inc.

Giwner: Made an early break that took her out of the race most recently. She's still talented.

Reid: Complicated matters by making a break in his latest but has shown ability.

10-Donna Soprano

Owner(s): Determination

Giwner: Perfection deserves recognition and thus she joins the list. Not sold on her being good enough to go with the top ones yet.

Reid: Added another sparkling performance to her resume in her elimination of the Peaceful Way. Connections are looking to obtain another spot and a win by Macho Martini in the Wellwood would give them an additional ticket. However, they have an arsenal of youngsters that are well suited.