After three months on the shelf, one of the Woodbine Entertainment Group's top aged pacing mares returned this morning during the qualifying session at Mohawk Racetrack, which also saw a North America Cup eligible
go a charted mile.
With Mike Saftic at her lines, six-year-old Astreos mare To Helen Back put in her first charted mile since December 12, 2008.
Conditioned by John Pentland since the beginning of 2008, To Helen Back left from Post 4 this morning and sat fourth through a :28.2 opening panel and :57.2 opening half. After going first-up on the sweeping Mohawk turn, the career winner of 17 races and $793,670 in purses was in contention for the lead by the 1:28.2 three quarters pole.
After having snatched the lead away by the head of the lane, To Helen Back went on to win by two and a half lengths, coming home with a :27.2 closing quarter to cap off the 1:56 mile.
Driven by Jody Jamieson for trainer Rene Laarman, the North America Cup-eligible Western Ideal colt Buffalo Rome put in his first charted line of the year in Race 5, the last dash of the morning.
After leaving from Post 6, the $80,000 Harrisburg yearling sale purchase was parked a nose back in second to the :29.3 opening quarter. Jamieson found the bay the garden spot along the backstretch, which saw the half go up in 58 seconds flat.
Buffalo Rome would race second for the rest of the dash and finish four and three-quarter lengths back of Alcatraz, who stopped the clock in 1:57. Buffalo Rome's mile was clocked in 1:58.
Buffalo Rome raced four times at two, winning and placing in pari-mutuel events, but taking his 1:56 mark in a Mohawk qualifier.
To view the charted lines from the morning qualifying session, click here.