Woodbine Mohawk Park: Stag Party blows away field in Metro Pace

The Metro Final for 2-year-old pacing males on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park was seen as a showdown between undefeated Captain Ahab and the talented Stag Party, and when Captain Ahab didn't fire, it was Stag Party's time to shine as he overwhelmed the field in a 1:50 4/5 mile.

De Los Cielos Deo (Yannick Gingras), who was second to Captain Ahab in the elimination, ended up drawing post ten for the final, but he would rush away nicely and make front well before the 27 1/5 opening quarter. He then got to the half in 55 4/5, with Stag Party (David Miller) moving first-up from fourth and towing Captain Ahab (Andrew McCarthy) into the race from second-over.

Stag Party got to within a length of De Los Cielos Deo at the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters, and then just past that mark, Captain Ahab couldn't keep up with the cover any longer and dropped back. Stag Party would then overhaul De Los Cielos Deo in upper stretch, and from there, it was all Stag Party as he drew off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Semi Tough (Matt Kakaley) was second from the pocket, with Shake That House (Scott Zeron) coming on to get third. Lyons Night Hawk (Brett Miller) was fourth, and Lyons Johnnyjnr (Louis-Philippe Roy) fifth.

This completed a heck of a week for David Miller as he won his record-tying fifth Little Brown Jug on Thursday afternoon.

"They come in bunches. It can be pretty cold for awhile, then when you heat up, everything clicks," he said. "My plan all along was to try to get Andrew in front of me, but he didn't take the bait. He ended up following me second-over, which I wasn't happy about, but I tell you what, my horse, he was full of pace the whole way. Around the last turn I had a pretty good feeling."

Stag Party is a Bettor's Delight colt trained by Casie Coleman for the ownership group of John Fielding, Mac Nichol, McKinlay & Fielding, and West Wins Stable. He is now a six-time winner from seven trips behind the gate, and he has put away C$642,489. Bred by Fred Hertrich, he was a $125,000 acquisition at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is the first foal out of the Western Ideal mare My Lady Day (1:52 1/5, $97,908). My Lady Day is a full sister to Twist N Clout (1:53 2/5, $554,362). Stag Party was the 8-5 second choice and returned $5.30 to win.

"From Day One he's been real special," remarked Coleman. "As you guys know, he's stressed me out a little bit the last couple weeks. I don't think I've ever had a race where I honestly texted the owners and said we might be scratching (in the elimination) and then go on and won the final the next week. He was awesome. His issues is all just colt soreness. I literally x-rayed this horse top to bottom two or three weeks in-a-row. They don't want to see their vet bills yet because I kept taking him in and x-raying him. I fluoroscoped him. I was just scared and I don't want to hurt him because I know how talented he is. I was ready to tell them we're shutting him down for the season, and we'll bring him back as a 3-year-old. Then a week later to go out and win this race, the horse is incredible.

"I haven't 100 percent decided what's next. We literally went from a week ago telling them I'm shutting him down this season to David saying he's as sound tonight as he's ever been. I'm definitely going to miss next week. He won't race in next week's Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series race. I don't know if I'll even go to the next Gold after that, I'm not sure. Definitely the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final if everything seems good and then he has Breeders Crown. There's just no weeks off if I keep racing him. There's two Golds in-a-row, then the Super Final, then the Breeders Crown, and he's also got the Governor's Cup. I'm not sure I'll keep him going that long either, but we'll just play it by ear."

For John Fielding, Stag Party was his first Metro winner.

"My Thoroughbred partner Fred Hertrich actually bred the horse, so it makes it extra special," he offered. "Casie and her team have done an amazing, amazing job. This colt is really special."