What to watch for in Saturday’s Grand Circuit events at Mohawk Park
MILTON, May 30, 2025 – The most lucrative part of the racing season is set to return tomorrow night (May 31) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Grand Circuit racing action, which showcases harness racing’s best, starts up with the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes (G3) and the Graduate Series.
The Somebeachsomewhere for three-year-old pacers is Woodbine’s first graded stakes event of the season, categorized as a Grade 3 race, and is the final prep ahead of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup.
The Graduate Series for four-year-olds kicks off with its first leg at Mohawk Park before shifting to The Meadowlands in New Jersey.
Here are a few highlights in each of Saturday’s stakes.
Race 2 - $80,500 Somebeachsomewhere
#5 Ayeaye Captain Deo (Bob McClure/Garry Merner) is Canada’s fastest three-year-old of the season, courtesy of a 1:49.2 victory in his last start on May 24…#7 Prince Hal Hanover (David Miller/Dr. Ian Moore) is ranked #9 of the “Road to the Pepsi North America Cup” rankings and is entering off a 1:49.3 victory in a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes on May 17.
Race 4 - $68,000 Graduate Series – Pace
Trainer Travis Alexander sends out a pair of starters, each of which earned big money at age three…#2 Howlenthehills (Matt Kakaley/T. Alexander), who made over $700,000 last season, was most recently second in the Charles Juravinski Memorial on May 18, while #6 Huntingforchrome (James MacDonald/T. Alexander) is making his first start of the season after earning over $350,000 in 2024.
Race 6 - $102,000 Graduate Series – Trot
Trainer Ake Svanstedt will send out four of the nine entrants, with all four making their first start of the season…#6 Amazing Catch (Dexter Dunn/A. Svanstedt) returns to the scene of his biggest victory to date in last year’s $713,000 Canadian Trotting Classic…#3 Warrawee Michelle (A. Svanstedt/A. Svanstedt) was last year’s Hambletonian Oaks winner and is one of two mares in the field.
Race 8 - $81,500 Somebeachsomewhere
#6 Lite Up The World (J. MacDonald/Anthony Beaton) is ranked eighth on the “Road to the NA Cup” and is a perfect two for two this season entering his Grand Circuit debut…#7 Papis Pistol (Andy Miller/Cosmo De Pinto) is making his first start of the season after earning more than $250,000 at age two, racing in the finals of the Metro, Breeders Crown and Governor’s Cup and winning the Kindergarten Final
Race 10 - $68,000 Graduate Series – Pace
#1 Funtime Bayama (D. Dunn/Andrew Harris) is set for his first start since winning the Canadian Graduate Final on May 3…#2 Calicojack Hanover (Tyler Jones/Luc Blais) enters off a victory in the $247,500 Charles Juravinski Memorial…#6 Nijinsky (Louis-Philippe Roy/A. Beaton) is set for his second start of the season after an 11-win three-year-old season that included a triumph in the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup.
To download a free program for Saturday’s races, click here.
Post time is 6:35 p.m.
For news, updates and live streaming, visit Woodbine.com/Mohawk.
-30-
Mark McKelvie