Two-Year-Olds Invade Mohawk Park

Qualifying action at Woodbine Mohawk Park

Two-year-old fillies invaded Woodbine Mohawk Park for an 11-race qualifying session held during a 28 degree morning over a fast track on Thursday, June 16.

The Jack Darling-trained pacing filly Brynley Seelster kicked off the action with a 1:56.1 victory, the co-fastest mile of the morning. 

Driven by Jody Jamieson, the Big Jim filly quickly looped to the lead around Kuper Trooper after opening panels of :29.4 and :59.2 and reached three-quarters in 1:28.1 before kicking home in 28 seconds to win by over Lyons Addiction, who followed her move into the final turn and chased one length behind. Kuper Trooper finished 4-1/2 lengths behind in third.

Bred by Seelster Farms and owned by Jack Darling Stables, Brynley Seelster was a $35,000 yearling purchase from the London Selected Sale. She is the first foal out the Betterthandcheddar mare Better Than Happy, a New York Sire Stakes winner. The qualifying victory followed her debut last Friday when she sprinted home in :27.2 for a runner-up finish timed in 2:02.4.

Virtual Kiss also turned in a 1:56.1 winning effort for back-to-back qualifying wins in rein to driver Sylvain Filion for trainer Rob Fellows.

After a :30.1 first panel, the top three in the field of nine remained in contention with Virtual Kiss sweeping from third to first at the :59.1 half-mile mark and passing three-quarters in 1:27.2 en route to the victory with a :28.4 final frame. She held off Ladysmith by three-quarters of a length, with early leader Capri Sun finishing three lengths behind but well ahead of the rest. 

Breeder Blair Corbeil of Beaumont Alta. co-owns the Hes Watchin filly, who was priced at $24,000 at the London sale, with Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., and Arpad Szabo of Bradford, Ont. Virtual Kiss is out of the Lis Mara mare Kisskissbangbang, who has produced five $100,000+ earners including multiple Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots winner Mach My Kiss, campaigned by the same connections, and sub-1:50 pacer Andrew Luck. She romped to a 14-length 2:02.3 win in her first qualifier a week ago.

Foolish Moni was the fastest winner on the trot in 1:59.2 with Louis-Philippe Roy aboard for trainer Blake MacIntosh.

The daughter of International Moni led all the way through fractions of :31.1, 1:01 and 1:30.1 before sprinting away by 5-1/2 lengths in :29.1. The debuting Match Meif You Can followed in second and Leapsnbounds was third.

Owned by MacIntosh and co-owner 30 Plus Stable of Trenton, Ont., Foolish Moni improved off a fourth-place 2:04 mile last week. The bay filly, who is out of Champlain Stakes runner-up Miss Athens and is a half-sister to the multiple Grand Circuit stakes-placed filly Dover Miss and $800,000-earner Major Athens, was a $15,000 yearling purchase from the Harrisburg sale.

MacIntosh sent out four qualifying winners on the day, including trotting fillies Lindys Irishcream (Father Patrick-Gin And Lindy) in 2:00.2 and Gotta Get Crackin (Walner-Habit Of Creature) in 2:00.4, and pacing filly Valley Of Fear (Fear The Dragon-Shes A Pansation) in 1:56.4.

Another 16 baby races for colts and geldings are scheduled for Friday morning at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

To view Thursday's complete qualifying results, click on the following link: Thursday Results (Qualifiers) - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A replay of Thursday morning's qualifiers is available below.

 

Have something to say about this? Log in or create an account to post a comment.