Atlanta motored to the early lead and had the field chasing her past the opening quarter in :28. Hot on her heels, however, was a parked out and driving Guardian Angel AS. That foe muscled his way to the lead in the backstretch, and once he cleared it was game over for the others. He stepped through middle panels of :57.1 and 1:24.3 before using a :27.1 closing panel to turn back the pocket-sitting Atlanta by three-quarters of a length. Speeding Spur N, Dream Together and Dancer Hall also earned spots in next week’s rich final.
“I was thinking about (tucking), but Atlanta I thought would want to follow my horse and lucky it worked out that way,” said Tetrick. “My horse has raced good every start this year…my horse is strong.”
Anette Lorentzon trains the five-year-old son of Archangel-Provide AS for ACL Stuteri AB of Kentucky and Kjell Johansson of Sweden. The win improved this year’s record to 6-1-0 from 9 attempts and it pushed his lifetime win total to 22. The classy campaigner has banked $921,116 to date.
Post positions were drawn - and selected by the elimination winners - for next Saturday's final after the eliminations were completed. Here's how they'll line up behind the gate:
$600,000 Maple Leaf Trot Final
1. Six Pack
2. Crystal Fashion
3. Guardian Angel AS
4. Speeding Spur N
5. Dancer Hall
6. Dream Together
7. Manchego
8. Marion Marauder
9. Emoticon Hanover
10. Atlanta