Field set for Canadian Trotting Classic
Article adapted from Harness Racing News

North America's top three-year-old trotters are still slugging it out to find a clear leader and they re-engaged at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening in two $30,000 (CDN) eliminations for the Canadian Trotting Classic, which will go for a purse of $1,144,500 (CDN) on Saturday, September 21.

Like A Prayer, runner up in a race off with Andover Hall in the August 31 World Trotting Derby got a dream trip and won the first elimination in 1:54.2, equaling the track record.

Driver Ron Pierce tucked the Lindy Lane son in to the two-hole as Trevor Ritchie guided Cyclone Artie to the lead and cut fractions of :28.2, :56.5, 1:25. Midway down the stretch, Pierce angled Like A Prayer to the outside and went on to win by a two and three quarter lengths. ENS Snapshot was third in rein to Mike Lachance.

"We left out of there and fell into the two-hole," said Pierce. "This is the type of trip you want to have in an elimination. He's getting stronger each start."

Mohawk simulcast at Fraser Downs starts at 4:40 p.m.

Like A Prayer, picked up $9,450 for the win. Brett Pelling trains the five-time winner for Perfect World Enterprises [David & Terry Brooks] of Old Westbury, New York. Wildwood Express and Malabar Maple also qualified for the final.

In the second elimination, Kadabra knocked off favorite Andover Hall and Trevor Ritchie by two lengths in 1:55.3.

Dave Miller drove the son of Primrose Lane for the Abra Kadabra Stable [Banjo Farms, Peter Heffering, L And L Devisser, Irving Liverman, David McDuffee] of Port Perry, Ontario.

"I let him step him out of there a bit and waited as long as I could before I moved him," said Miller. "When I did move him he felt strong and when I asked him in the stretch he was all business. I was surprised Andover Hall didn't give a tougher fight."

Kadabra got away in the fifth spot as Duke Of York left alertly from the rail and took the field past the opening quarter in :27. Ritchie then moved to the front and led at the half [:57.2] and three quarters [1:26.3] before giving way to Kadabra. Longshot Rotation was third, with Randall Waples driving.

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