This morning's session of qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack featured harness racing talent from the past, present and possibly the future
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In the fifth qualifier, Pepsi North America Cup eligible Piece Of The Rock made his 2010 debut a winning one for the father-son combination of trainer Bob and driver Scott Young. Although winless in seven starts at 2, the Rocknroll Hanover - Paulas Promise showed flashed of brilliance with numerous miles in the 1:52 range and banked just over $40,000 for his efforts. This morning, the pacer was a 1:55 winner of a soft opening half of :59.1 for Ontario owners Bob Young, Jamie Trott, Brian Barton and Frank Aloise.
The next session featured free-for-all trotter Scorpion Moon, who rebounded from two uncharacteristically poor efforts at the Open Trot level to trounce seven other square-gaiters in 1:55.4 for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Tracy Brainard, who co-owns with Andrew Herzog of Monticello, N.Y.
To the surprise of many, pacer-turned-stallion Shanghai Phil made his first on-track appearance since 2005. Even more surprising - he won, in 1:55.2 with a :27.4 final quarter. Keith Oliver was in the bike for trainer and co-owner Dustin Jones. Jones shares partnership on the now eight-year-old son of Blissfull Hall with Hudson Standardbred of Quebec.
For all the charts from the Thursday session of qualifiers at Mohawk, click here.