Earlier this week, officials with The Raceway at Western Fair District announced that a pair of millionaires had confirmed to the upcoming Molson Pace at the London, Ont. oval. The track has now announced that the field for the anticipated dash is now set, and that another millionaire earner is confirmed to be joining the fray.
The final piece to this year’s Molson Pace puzzle has fallen into place with the announcement that $1.7 million career winner McWicked will join seven other outstanding rivals in the $150,000 event. The Molson Pace will be contested next Friday night (May 27) at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
The five-year-old son of McArdle, who now hails in the Steve Elliott Stable, will come into the race fresh off a pair of winning qualifiers and one pari-mutuel start this season. He finished just five lengths back of Always B Miki and Mel Mara in last weekend’s flashy 1:48.4 mile in the Open Pace at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
McWicked took his 1:47.3 record at age three while winning the $500,000 Hempt Memorial Final at Pocono Downs. That same season, he posted victories in the Adios, Breeders Crown and Progress Pace Final and was voted Three-Year-Old Pacer of the Year in both Canada and the US. He has 15 wins and 35 on-the-board finishes to his credit in 44 career races.
Rockin In Heaven, who was a recent fourth-place finisher in the Confederation Cup, will be the ‘also eligible’ in the field in the event of a scratch. The combined earnings of this year’s Molson Pace field is more than $9 million.
“We are extremely happy with the field we’ve assembled considering we are in the midst of a very busy time in the season for older horses,” said the track’s racing manager, Greg Blanchard. “There are some familiar faces, but some new ones in the mix this year. It’s a very talented and well balanced field with plenty of half-mile prowess. It should produce not only a great race but a very enticing wagering proposition.”
The post position draw will take place this Monday on ‘The Raceway’s pre-game show which airs at 5:45 p.m. (E.T.)
The Molson Pace undercard is a strong one. It will feature four City of London Series finals, a pair of Alliance Series finals and Gold divisions for three-year-old colt pacers in the Ontario Sires Stakes. Total purses for the night will be more than $500,000.
As always, there will be lots happening on track that night, including Scratch and Win program prizes, OSS ‘Be A Winner Contest,’ Party on the Patio, a Molson VIP infield event and much more. The wagering menu has been bolstered to include a $5,000 guaranteed early Pick-3, $10,000 guaranteed early Pick-4, $15,000 guaranteed late Pick-4 and the addition of a third Super Hi-5 – all low 15 per cent takeout wagers.
This year’s Molson Pace field appears below in alphabetical order.
All Bets Off
Bettor Rock On N
Evenin Of Pleasure
Machtu N
McWicked
P H Super Cam
State Treasurer
Sunfire Blue Chip
AE: Rockin In Heaven
(The Raceway at Western Fair District)