Mohawk Racetrack played host to a nine-race qualifying docket this morning which was highlighted by a 21-length winner and an Artsplace colt eligible to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup
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Driver Jonathan Drury got the proceedings off with a bang, as he steered the Norm Jones-trained Stormont Lancelot to a 21-length win in Race 1.
After leaving from Post 7, Drury and the career winner of five races and $68,690 were parked to the lead by the time the :29.4 opening quarter sprang to life. From there, Drury and the four-year-old Stormont Bronze gelding clicked off the middle panels in :58.3 and 1:26.4. The gelding's lead at the middle calls were four and three-quarter lengths and a whopping 14 lengths, respectively.
Drury and his mount were well in hand during the final quarter, as the pair cruised home in :29.3 to win hands down.
Willies Place, the lone NA Cup eligible racing on the card, stepped out on the track to take part in the docket's fourth contest.
With Jody Jamieson at the controls for trainer Kristofer DiCenzo, Willies Place left from Post 2 and sat second, a position which he retained for every call. Having come his final quarter in :28.3, Willies Place put in a good showing for himself, as he finished just a head behind Lane Shark (driven by Mark MacDonald), who tripped the final timer in 1:56.
Willies Place's last pari-mutuel line was recorded during the $63,200 final of Woodbine Racetrack's The Count B Pacing Series on February 12. The $150,000 Lexington Sale yearling purchase raced overland in The Count B finale and finished fourth by just one and a quarter lengths to Luckcamotion, who stopped the clock in 1:53 that night.
Four-year-old Casie Coleman pupil Stinger Blue Chip didn't show much rust from his brief time away from the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit this morning during Race 2, as the gelded son of Artsplace went wire to wire after leaving from the rail with driver MacDonald. The win time was 1:53.1 and the margin was seven and a half lengths. Stinger Blue Chip had opened up a 15-length gap by the time he hit the three-quarters pole. He then came home with a :28.3 final quarter to seal the deal.
To view the charted harness racing results from Mohawk's Thursday morning qualifying session, click here.