After having broken stride in his last two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold races, three-year-old Striking Sahbra colt Striking Lindsey was looking to put his best effort forward during the Monday morning qualifying session
at Mohawk Racetrack.
Pilot Luc Ouellette was at Striking Lindsey's lines for trainer Gregg McNair. The duo left from Post 5 in the six-horse second race. Ouellette and his charge settled for the three hole as Stormont Czar (driven by Dustin Jones) cut the early fractions in :30.4 and 1:00.4. The track was rated 'good' and one second slow by the presiding Ontario Racing Commission judges.
Ouellette pulled Striking Lindsey fist up in the third panel. The duo was a head back in second as Stormont Czar clicked off the three quarters in 1:31.1. Ouellette and his charge were on top by the head of the lane and came home with a :29.1 final panel to stop the clock in 2:00.2. The margin of victory was four lengths.
The session kicked off with two-year-old Oye Vay colt Mensch converting a pocket trip for driver Mike Saftic and trainer John Pentland. The margin of victory one and a half lengths and the mile was clocked in 1:58.4.
Five-year-old Grinfromeartoear gelding Eagle On It recovered from a backstretch break in Race 3 and went on to post a one and three-quarter-length victory in 1:56.3 for driver Luc Ouellette and trainer Mark Ford.
Race 4 saw the Rick Zeron-trained and driven Muscles Yankee gelding What A Muscle convert a pocket ride. The four-year-old was one and a half lengths the best at the wire. The win time was 2:02.
The final race of the session saw four-year-old Camotion gelding Cavin Hanover come from off the pace to post a one and a half-length victory in 1:57.1. The Rod Boyd trainee was steered by Phil Hudon this morning.
To view the harness racing results from this morning's qualifying session, click here.