One of the most prestigious races for 2-year-old pacers is the $1 million Metro Pace, contested at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario. Sportswriter was sent off as the even-money favorite in the field of 10 over 5-2 Malicious. Each horse won his elimination heat as well as his division of the Nassagaweya. Woodstock, winner of the other elimination, was the 9-2 third choice in his stakes debut.
Malicious went to the lead first time past the stands through an initial quarter mile in 26 seconds, with Delmarvalous stalking him to his outside. Down the backstretch, Delmarvalous took over the lead through a half in 53 seconds and 3/4 in 1:21, with Malicious and Woodstock tracking him into the lane. Entering the stretch, driver Mark MacDonald and Sportswriter, who raced in midpack fifth early out wide around both turns, found room between horses to get to the front, passing the tiring pacesetters. Rock N Roll Heaven put in a strong rally from sixth on the inside but was left with too much ground to make up, as Sportswriter cruised under the line 2 lengths in front in 1:49 2/5. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Rock Me Please in third. The running time set a new stakes, track, and world record for 2-year-old pacing males, eclipsing the previous mark set by champion Somebeachsomewhere in the 2007 Metro Pace.
Results chart from Mohawk
Also on the card:
She's A Great Lady Stakes won by Put On A Show
Canadian Pacing Derby won by Shark Gesture
