Back in action for the first time since appearing in a May 2022 qualifier, Preferred pacer Uhtred capped off Monday morning's qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a wire-to-wire victory for trainer Carmen Auciello.
Uhtred quickly crossed to command from post six in the fifth qualifier and driver Jody Jamieson guided the six-year-old Art Major gelding through fractions of :29.2, :58 and 1:26.3 en route to the 1:55 score.
An 11-time race winner with $293,762 earned throughout his career, Uhtred put together a 4-4-3 record from a dozen starts with six-figure earnings last winter racing almost exclusively in the Preferred at Mohawk. He is owned by Earl Hill Jr. of Ohsweken, Ont., and Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont.
Simon Says Hanover, a five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous from the Tiffanee Staley stable who last raced in late 2021, followed Uhtred 1-3/4 lengths behind in his return qualifier, with a season-debuting Nuzzle Loader finishing third.
The Sportswriter filly Sweetest Belle, a winner in her lone rookie start in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series last July, made her sophomore debut during Monday's qualifiers, winning in 1:56.2 with Chris Christoforou in the bike for trainer Susie Kerwood.
To view Monday's complete qualifying results, click one of the following links: Monday Results (Qualifiers) - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A replay of the qualifiers from Mohawk is available below.