Kopas' Kadabras Top Mohawk Baby Races
With the entry box flooded by two-year-olds for this week's qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack, the Campbellville oval hosted an extra session on Thursday for just the trotters.
Kadabra offspring won half of Mohawk's eight baby races and posted the fastest miles of the day.
Cool Victory took top marks with his 10 length romp in 2:00.2 for driver Jack Moiseyev and trainer John Kopas. Making his second qualifying start, the Kadabra-Allmar Victory gelding pulled the pocket after the :30.4 opening quarter and began to draw away from the field through fractions of 1:02.1 and 1:32. A :28.3 final frame put him into the double digit win margin. The $25,000 Canadian Yearling Sale purchase is owned by the LLK Stable and Janet Wagner of Mississauga, the Kocomo Stables of Moffat, and Gary Grieve of Union.
Magic Peach was the fastest filly with a 2:02.2 winning effort over three other foes for Moiseyev and Kopas. Also making her second qualifying start, the Kadabra-So Peachy miss sat third through fractions of :32.4, 1:04 and 1:34 before sprinting home in :27.3 to win by six and three-quarter lengths. The filly was purchased for $30,000 at the Harrisburg Sale by the LLK Stable, Paul Barkley of Morrisburg, High Stakes Inc. of Moffat, and Douglas Millard of Woodstock.
Among Thursday's winners was the half-sister to millionaire trotting mare Crys Dream and multiple stakes winner Brigham Dream. Crysti Dream (Infinitif-Crystas Image) converted a pocket trip into a three and a half length victory in 2:04.2 with Scott Zeron driving for Bjorn Noren. The $105,000 Lexington Selected Sale yearling is owned by Sweden's Courant Ab.
Mohawk will also be hosting qualifiers for freshman pacers on Friday, beginning at 10 a.m.
Robert Robinson trainees won three of the five baby races at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday morning. Filly pacer Luna Hanover (Western Ideal-Larissa Hall) was a wire-to-wire winner in 2:00.3 with Kyle Forgie in the bike for owners Stephanie and Brian Cassell of Glouchester. With Robinson aboard, pacing colt Celebratethemoment (Modern Art-Niaflirt) also clocked a 2:00.3 mile for the Cassells and pacing ridgling New Came Dollar (Million Dollar Cam-Rosette Stena) turned in a 2:00.4 winning effort with Robinson aboard for Jacqueline Dinelle of Metcalfe and Bob Curran of Smiths Falls.
Stateside at The Meadows, driver Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke teamed up to win 10 of the 13 two-year-old races at the Pennsylvania track.
On the pacing side, a pair of Real Desire offspring turned in matching marks of 1:55.3 in their second sessions. Colt Wishful Desire (Real Desire-Wish Of A Lifetime) was a $23,000 Harrisburg purchase by Freedom Reins Equine PTRS, Robert Laham, and Gregory Laham while filly Carols Desire (Real Desire-Carolache), a full-sister to Kentucky Sires Stakes champion Sheer Desire, was purchased for $25,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Randy Ringer, and Phillip Collura.
Arctic Tale doubled up and topped the trotters with a 1:58.2 victory for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, The Panhellenic Stb Corp., and Lawrence Karr. The Donato Hanover-Southwind Wake colt sold for $47,000 at Harrisburg.
Pocono Downs also hosted 14 two-year-old qualifiers the Larry Stalbaum-owned and driven Dealmaker (American Ideal-Grandpas Ashley) was an impressive eight and a quarter length winner in his debut there in 1:56 flat for trainer Kimberly Asher.
Good Day Mate (Christian Cullen-Stienams Place) won his second straight qualifier in 1:57 with Brian Sears aboard for conditioner Chris Oakes. The Good Day Mate Partnership purchased the half-sister to double millionaire Put On A Show and multiple stakes winner Showherthemoney for $170,000 in Lexington.
Jones Beach (Somebeachsomewhere-Sweet On Art) was also a 1:57 winner for trainer-driver Ray Schnittker. The $50,000 Lexington Selected Sale yearling, now two-for-two in qualifying action, is owned by Schnittker, Charles Iannazzo, Steven Arnold, and Theodore Gewertz.
The Tyler Ramer-trained trotter Tirade Hanover (Crazed-Teagarden Hanover) was a nine and a quarter length stand out as he came on to win his debut in 1:58.4 with Howard Parker in the sulky. The colt was bought for $10,000 at the Harrisburg Sale by Leigh Nichol, Stephen Moss, and Harold and Helane Solomon.