Mohawk Ready for Grand Circuit Season

MILTON, August 11, 2025 – Grand Circuit action is set to ramp up again this week at Woodbine Mohawk Park with two-year-olds the focus over the next several weeks.

The entry box for the Grade 1 William Wellwood Memorial ($575,000E) and Grade 1 Peaceful Way ($390,000E) closes Tuesday morning (August 12) at 10:30 a.m. The eliminations for these two-year-old trotting events will be contested this Friday (August 15). The finals will then be held on Saturday, August 23.

These marquee two-year-old trot stakes present some of the most lucrative purses on the Grand Circuit and launch the richest part of the racing season.

“We take great pride in our stakes program, especially our offerings for two-year-olds,” said Bill McLinchey, Vice-President of Standardbred Racing for Woodbine. “Trainers of top young horses have opportunities to develop and race for good money with little travel from July through October.”

Additionally, the Wellwood and Peaceful Way both serve as opportunities to get noticed ahead of the Mohawk Million (September 20). Slot owners for the Million have until the week of the race to declare the horse that will start in their slot.

Rookie pacers will get their first taste of Mohawk Grand Circuit racing on August 23 for the Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation Stakes, while three-year-olds and older horses also have major races in the weeks ahead at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

“With it being a Breeders Crown year at Mohawk, the next two and a half months are as good as it gets for Standardbred,” said McLinchey. “We hope to see good support of our stakes and are excited to put this product on for our racing fans.”

A full breakdown of the stakes by division is listed below.

2-Year-Old Pace
​Nassagaweya Stakes (G3) – August 23
​Champlain Stakes (G3) – September 6
​Metro Pace (G1) – September 13 & 20
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 17 & 24

2-Year-Old Filly Pace
​Eternal Camnation Stakes (G3) – August 23
​Champlain Stakes (G3) – September 5
​Shes A Great Lady (G1) – September 13 & 20
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 17 & 24

2-Year-Old Trot
​William Wellwood Memorial (G1) – August 15 & 23
​Champlain Stakes (G3) – September 11
​Mohawk Million (G1) – September 20
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 17 & 24

2-Year-Old Filly Trot
​Peaceful Way (G1) – August 15 & 23
​Champlain Stakes (G3) – September 12
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 17 & 24

3-Year-Old Pace
​Simcoe Stakes (G3) – September 6
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

3-Year-Old Filly Pace
​Simcoe Stakes (G3) – September 5
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

3-Year-Old Trot
​Simcoe Stakes (G3) – August 30
​Canadian Trotting Classic (G1) – September 13 & 20
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

3-Year-Old Filly Trot
​Simcoe Stakes (G3) – August 30
​Elegantimage Stakes (G1) – September 12 & 20
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

Open Pace
​Canadian Pacing Derby (G1) – August 23 & 30
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

Mare Pace
​Milton Stakes (G2) – September 6 & 13
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

Open Trot
​Maple Leaf Trot (G1) – August 22 & 30
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

Mare Trot
​Breeders Crown (G1) – October 18 & 25

For the latest news and information on live racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, visit Woodbine.com/Mohawk and follow @WoodbineSB and @WoodbineComms on X.