After a three-month layoff, speedy older trotter Locatelli made a statement in his return to action during the qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Dec. 6.

With trainer Natasha Day at the lines, Locatelli easily disposed of his trotting rivals to clock the fastest mile of the five-dash card.  Under snowglobe-like conditions, Locatelli and Day rambled through fractions of :29.4, :58.2 and 1:27 with a substantial margin on their closest rivals. A nine-length lead at the head of the stretch expanded to double digits at the wire, with the mile timed in a brisk 1:55.3. Goober Smack and driver James MacDonald finished 10 lengths in arrears as the next across the finish line.

Doug Millard of Woodstock, Ont. owns Locatelli (Muscle Hill - Girle Tough), a six-year-old who set a track record at Mohawk almost two years ago to the day. That mile, a 1:50.4 performance, marks his lifetime best. He's won 17 races in his 109-start career and sports more than $558,000 in career purses.

A full replay of Friday's qualifying session appears below.

For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).

(Standardbred Canada)