Woodbine Mohawk Park: Wrong Sounds Right equals world record in Mohawk Million

Wrong Sounds Right stepped up to face open company after a successful run through the New Jersey Sire Stakes and New Jersey Classic and didn't disappoint, winning the Grade 1 Mohawk Million for 2-year-old trotters on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:51 1/5 to match the world record for a rookie trotting colt.

With Todd McCarthy in the bike for trainer Jim Campbell and owner/breeder Runthetable Stables (Scott Farber), Wrong Sounds Right settled in the pocket from post five as Access Now (Bob McClure) charged to the top from post ten in a 26 3/5 opening quarter. Wrong Sounds Right would then be demoted to third as a parked-out Nevis Peak (Yannick Gingras) pressed on to take charge in the second quarter.

Nevis Peak got to the half in 55 2/5 and McCarthy put Wrong Sounds Right into motion just beyond that marker, giving cover to Seven Pledges (Joe Bongiorno), William Wellwood Memorial winner Ocean Storm (James MacDonald) and Peaceful Way Stakes champion Athena's Girl (Dexter Dunn). Wrong Sounds Right would make a steady march while uncovered on the final bend and was just a neck behind Nevis Peak at the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters.

In the stretch Wrong Sounds Right sustained his bid to go by Nevis Peak, and nobody from behind was able to challenge Wrong Sounds Right down the lane as he came home in 27 2/5 to win by three lengths over Access Now. D A Johnny Cash (Doug McNair) came in third at 30-1, followed by Nevis Peak and 42-1 shot Kissme Ifyoucan (Austin Hanners).

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

"I loved him straight away. He's been such a gentleman and a professional from the get-go," McCarthy said. "He's always just showed so much stamina and speed. They're pretty special, these ones, when you get to come across them.

"He can do it either way. He's smart. He'll sit on a helmet or you can move him, do what you want. He's all class. He just does whatever you ask him. He's a pleasure to drive."

A Tactical Landing colt, Wrong Sounds Right has a summary of 5-1-0 from seven starts, has earned C$821,721 and paid $2.80 to win as the favorite.

"He was no drama training down," said Campbell. "I've got to give kudos to my assistant Manny Quevedo. He worked with the colt all winter. He just wasn't able to make it up here tonight. Manny did a terrific job with the horse and everything that he does. He told Scott a few months ago, 'I think you've got a good one here.'

"This colt has taken the place of any other 2-year-old colt that I've had for a multitude of reasons, but the main reasons are the colt and the owner. Scott's been such a loyal owner over the years, and Scott said to me a month ago 'we've got a nice horse, let's have some fun.' I had thought about [racing in the Mohawk Million], but I wasn't saying anything to Scott until after we got done with the New Jersey Classic because I believe one race at a time. Then, I just mentioned it to Scott and he took it over from there. He loves doing this type of stuff. Him, Steve Stewart and Anders Strom got the deal done. I'm very thankful to Scott, Steve Stewart and Anders Strom for allowing us a spot in this race."

Farber put Wrong Sounds Right in last year's Standardbred Horse Sale auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and wound up buying him back for $35,000.

"I put him in the sale and I was looking for a certain price for him. I'm winding down my Standardbred operations here. I just wasn't going to let him go at that price, it was just as simple as that," recalled Farber. "He was just, to me, too well-bred. The dam was two-for-two, and I love Tactical Landing. I'm a huge Tactical Landing guy.

"Two weeks ago I shot my mouth off a little bit after the New Jersey Classic, and I said that this is the best 2-year-old in America. I realize that we're going to have to go down and face a pretty good one in the Breeders Crown, but I'm telling you right now, I'm going to stand by it, to me, this is the best 2-year-old in America. I guess it all comes down to the Breeders Crown, like they say."

Campbell indicated that Wrong Sounds Right will skip the Grand Circuit meet in Lexington and will make his next appearance in the Breeders Crown eliminations.