Superstar Kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn has a ticket to ride in the Mohawk Million, the richest two-year-old race in North America, after piloting Winners Bet (Walner) to victory in the $665,000 William Wellwood Memorial, itself one of the most prestigious juvenile races in the world of trotting.
On September 24, Dunn and Winners Bet will follow in the footsteps of Haras des Trotteurs latest stallion acquisition On A Streak, who was the first horse to win a spot in the first ever million-dollar slot race in harness racing history Mohawk Million, after winning the 2020 William Wellwood Memorial in 1:54.3.
The Mohawk Million has a 10-horse field with nine spots purchased for $US100,000, with the final slot in the race given to the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial, making it one of the most competitive races in the North American calendar.
On the weekend, his season’s renewal of the William Wellwood saw Domenico Cecere’s Winners Bet down his stablemate International Man in Memorial in the final stride to claim the only free ticket to the Mohawk Million.
Winners Bet recorded a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:54.1.
It was the son of Walner’s third straight victory for owners Lindy Farm and Robert Rudolph, who debuted on June 30.
Now, his connections are in line for an even bigger cheque in the Mohawk Million with Winners Bet, a $200,000 purchase at the Lexington Select Sale in October 2021.
The Wellwood Memorial was the feature race of the evening on a stakes-packed card at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The William Wellwood has long been a stallion making race in Canada, with the likes of Andover Hall, Malabar Man, Mr Lavec Ken Warkentin and more recently Southwind Frank Father Patrick and Pastor Stephen all graduating to stallion ranks through this rich Canadian classic.
The William Wellwood Memorial is named in honour of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer William Wellwood and was formerly run as Campbellville Stakes until 2005.
Haras des Trotteurs’ new sire On A Streak was a meritorious third in the inaugural Mohawk Million, behind the richly bred Love You colt Venerate. On A Streak got his revenge a few weeks later in the Breeders Crown, defeating Venerate into third place, lowering Walner’s previous race record to 1.52.4.
Last year’s Mohawk Million was won by Venerable, a daughter of Walner who was named both the USA and Canadian 2YO filly of the year.
ON A STREAK:
WINNERS BET: