Qualifying conditions were less than ideal Friday morning (October 31) at Mohawk Racetrack, but that didn’t stop a pair of the continent’s top three-year-olds from putting in solid qualifying efforts over the Campbellville, Ont. racecourse.

The track was rated ‘good’ for the seven-race qualifying docket. Rain fell during the duration of the races and the track was rated two seconds slow for the session.

Race 2 saw the Mark Steacy-trained Harper Blue Chip put in his second consecutive qualifying mile since capturing his division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals on October 11.

Harper Blue Chip’s regular pilot, Sylvain Filion, was back in the bike Friday morning, and he floated the Majestic Son colt out from Post 7 and settled into fifth before the :29.2 opening quarter.

Filion had the bay overland in fifth as the opening half-mile was reached in :59.4, but the duo geared up along the final turn and were first to the three-quarters of a mile station in 1:28.3, two and a half lengths ahead of their nearest rival.

Harper Blue Chip motored away from the field in the late stages of the race, as he came home with a :28.2 final quarter and stopped the timer in 1:57. His margin of victory was 12 and a half lengths.

Race 5 saw the Dave Menary-trained Hes Watching return to Mohawk Racetrack for the first time since competing in the Pepsi North America Cup in mid-June.

The American Ideal colt had Jody Jamieson in the bike Friday morning. The pair left out of Post 7 and were overland in fifth when Avatartist (driven by Mike Saftic) clicked off the opening quarter in :27.2.

Saftic was able to rate a :29.4 second quarter and hit the half in :57.1. Hes Watching was overland in fourth at the half heading into the final turn.

Avatartist kept on truckin’ along the final turn and passed the three-quarters of a mile station in 1:25.3. Hes Watching was overland in third at the three-quarters call and trailed the pacesetter by one and three-quarter lengths.

Avatartist, a four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding, fired home with a :27.1 final quarter to get the job done for Saftic and trainer Tony O’Sullivan.

Hes Watching closed with a sharp :26.4 final panel and finished a head back in second.

To view the harness racing results for Friday morning at Mohawk, click the following link: Friday Results – Mohawk Racetrack (Qualifiers).