Star power at Mohawk Park

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CAMPBELLVILLE: It was as if Bulldog Hanover knew the followers got here to Woodbine Mohawk Park simply to see him and that he needed to ship for them.

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The four-year-old who captured the eye of racing followers in addition to individuals who don’t normally comply with harness racing, dazzled in his remaining begin at his house monitor, profitable the $600,000 (U.S.) Breeders’ Crown open tempo, and did so to cheering not often heard at a harness monitor anymore.

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Pushed by Dexter Dunn, Bulldog Hanover discovered his technique to the lead on the half-mile pole and within the stretch, stepped away from the sector to win in 1:46 4/5, which can be a second slower than the world report he set on July 16 on the Meadowlands however does give him a share of the Canadian report.

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“He felt nice tonight,” Dunn stated. “He grabbed a maintain as he had all yr and that gave me quite a lot of confidence going into that final flip.”

“He’s simply an incredible horse.”

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Skilled by Jack Darling, who lastly scored his first Crown win, Bulldog Hanover was already an area star going into this yr. However a sequence of very quick wins in New Jersey culminating in his world report mile transcended him right into a famous person not seen within the sport in a few years. With 13 wins in 15 begins this season and over $2.5 million in profession earnings, he’s a lock to win horse-of-the-year honors in each Canada and the U.S. Darling co-owns the horse with Brad Grant of Milton.

“The stress going into this race for me was excruciating,” Darling stated. “I simply needed him to win so badly for the followers.”

Darling stated he’ll race twice extra together with his remaining begin probably being within the TVG Open Tempo on the Meadowlands in late November.

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The race was considered one of 12 Crown championships contested on Friday and Saturday as harness racing’s championship occasion returned to Mohawk. And the occasion belonged to Dunn, who has solidified himself as one of many sport’s premier drivers since relocating to the U.S. from his native New Zealand a couple of years in the past. He had 4 Crown wins on Saturday.

He captured the $600,000 open trot with Ecurie D DK, who efficiently defended the title he received on the Meadowlands a yr in the past. Dunn took the six-year-old proper to the lead and had little or no stress after that, profitable in 1:51. Skilled by Ake Svanstedt, who led all trainers with three Crown wins on the weekend, Ecurie D DK was flippantly raced this season and the Crown rating was simply his second win in six begins this yr.

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He received the $350,000 open mare trot with Bella Bellini, who received in 1:51 1/5 and spoiled the ultimate Canadian begin for the legendary Atlanta. Skilled by Nifty Norman, Bella Bellini has now received Crown races in consecutive years and now has over $2 million in earnings.

Within the $600,000 three-year-old filly trot, Dunn took Jiggy Jog S to the lead across the flip and held off a cussed Raised By Lindy to win in a Canadian report 1:51 1/5. It was the eighth win of the season for the Svanstedt trainee who went over $1 million in earnings with the win.

Different drivers obtained their wins too on the weekend together with three Mohawk regulars.

Grace Hill, pushed by Mohawk’s second-leading driver Doug McNair, pushed her earnings over $1 million in profitable the $350,000 open mare tempo. Grace Hill took the lead halfway by means of the backstretch and held off heavily-favored Check of Religion to win in 1:48 4/5.

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On Friday, each Louis-Philippe Roy and Bob McClure received Crown occasions. Roy received his driving Gaines Hanover to win the $600,000 two-year-old colt trot. That win gave nine-time O’Brien Award-winning coach Richard Moreau his first Crown win. McClure received the $600,000 two-year-old filly tempo, driving Sylvia Hanover for coach Shawn Steacy, who captured his first Crown.

Additionally Saturday, Pebble Seaside, who received the North America Cup final June, received the $600,000 three-year-old colt tempo in 1:48 1/5. Todd McCarthy drove the Noel Daley-trained colt.

Treacherous Dragon discovered a seam in between horses in deep stretch to win the $600,000 three-year-old filly tempo with former Mohawk common Scott Zeron driving for coach Nancy Takter.

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One of many higher performances of the night time got here from King of the North, who took the lead from the rail simply after the beginning and dominated the $600,000 three-year-old colt trot in a Canadian-best time of 1:50 3/5. Mark MacDonald drove the Ray Schnittker-trained trotter.

On Friday, Particular Method received the $600,000 two-year-old filly trot in a Canadian report 1:52 for GTA-based co-owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Svanstedt trains and drove the filly to her seventh win.

And whereas a lot of the winners the previous two days had been short-priced, longshot gamers obtained a thrill when Ammo scored a 52-1 upset within the two-year-old colt tempo. Dave Miller took benefit of a rail journey off the pocket whereas heavily-favored Accomplice had a tougher journey earlier than rallying to complete second.

Mohawk hosted the Crown for the primary time since 2019 as Woodbine Leisure has established itself as a bunch for the occasion each 3-4 years. The 2023 championships can be held at Hoosier Park close to Indianapolis.