Woodbine Mohawk Park: Svanstedt-trained exacta in Maple Leaf Trot

Trainer Ake Svanstedt was forced to scratch favored Alrajah One from the C$610,000 Maple Leaf Trot on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park when the 6-year-old suffered an injury. That misfortune didn't dampen the spirits of the entire stable as Back Of The Neck scored a 9-1 upset with Tim Tetrick in the bike. In fact, Svanstedt's stable ran one-two with favored Ecurie D second in the mile.

Action was hot and heavy from the start as Logan Park blasted to the front, joined inside by Forbidden Trade, who settled for a seat. Fashion Frenzie, with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike, was parked nearly the opening quarter of 26 4/5 before getting the front. Yannick Gingras had second choice Atlanta away quickly as well from post seven, but the $3.5 million winner would be parked nearly three-eighths of the mile before gaining command and set the half in a testy
55 1/5.

Atlanta kept the pace fairly solid, with Ecurie D and Svanstedt underway before the half in a long, uncovered grind, with Back Of The Neck right on his back for Tetrick. As the field approached the three-quarter marker Roy pulled Fashion Frenzie from the pocket, providing cover for the favorite, but more seriously putting pressure on Atlanta through a 1:23 2/5 three-quarters.

Fashion Frenzie would take over, but his lead would be brief as Svanstedt geared wide with Ecurie D and started to dent the margin. Tetrick, though, had gone even wider in mid-stretch, and Back Of The Neck, a 5-year-old by Ready Cash that was making just his fourth start in 2022, was in full stride quickly and blew right by the favorite on his way to a 1:51 lifetime-best mile. Ecurie D held on for second, and Forbidden Trade was able to shake loose after a ground-saving trip for third.

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Owned by Howard Taylor, Order By Stable, Judith Taylor and Ake Svanstedt, Back Of The Neck went over the $1 million mark in career earnings with the victory.

"Unexpected," is how Tetrick described the victory. Himself a winner in three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes finals on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows, Tetrick was asked to drive following the draw and accepted.

"I was in a good spot following Ake. The fractions were fair. I spoke with Scotty Z(eron) about the horse, and he said he'd be all right if you just give him a target," Tetrick added.