Periculum (Muscle Hill) powered down the stretch to claim victory in the $600,000 Maple Leaf Trot, giving harness racing driver Scott Zeron a sweep of the major stakes on Saturday, August 31, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Starting from post five, the stallion floated three-wide into the first turn while Logan Park (Doug McNair) set a fast opening quarter of :26.3 with M-M’s Dream (Dave Miller) parked and pressing. Unlike his earlier Canadian Pacing Derby win, Zeron chose to keep Periculum off the pylons, following Hillexotic (Jody Jamieson) to the half in :54.1.
As the field turned for home, the outer flow began to close in. Periculum, still on cover, followed three-wide at three-quarters in 1:22.4. Hillexotic initially kicked home the strongest, but Periculum found top gear in mid-stretch, chasing down Logan Park and storming home to win in 1:50.4.
Oh Well (Dexter Dunn) edged past Logan Park late to secure second place, while Logan Park held on for third.
With this win, Periculum improved to six wins in 10 starts this season under trainer Marcus Melander. Owned by Brixton Medical and Holly Lane Stud East, the stallion has now earned $863,543 in his career, with 11 wins in 43 lifetime starts. After racing in Sweden last year, Periculum returned to North America this season, and Saturday's triumph marked his first stakes win of 2024.