After unleashing a number of talented three-year-olds during the session of qualifiers on Monday, April 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, trainer Blake MacIntosh showed off another speedy sophomore at Mohawk on Friday, April 18.
Courts On Fire, the 2024 New York Sire Stakes champion, made a statement with his well-in-hand three-year-old debut. Last in action some seven months ago, the son of Courtly Choice - Ashlees Spitfire dusted off the rust and sparkled with a 1:54.3 effort.
Driver Doug McNair dropped Courts On Fire into the three spot during the morning's seventh qualifier as Sauble Wilson (Bob McClure) fronted the octet through a 30-second opening quarter. McNair asked Courts On Fire to press the pace down the backside and landed on top just before a half in :59.
From there, the sophomores stepped it up as the third station was reached in 1:27.4 and the sprint to the wire was on. Most of the horses paced home faster than :27, with Courts On Fire scorching the Mohawk stretch in :26.4 to trip the timer in 1:54.3. He was nearly two lengths better than Sauble Wilson with Southwind Judge (James MacDonald) next best.
Blake MacIntosh trains and co-owns Courts On Fire with Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, Penn., Tim Klemencic of Trenton, Ont. and Daniel Plouffe of Bromont, Que. In seven freshman appearances, Courts On Fire hit the board in six while banking $269,910.
Courts On Fire was assessed at 48-1 odds in TROT Magazine's 2025 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. Standardbred Canada posted the full Spring Book odds on Tuesday, April 15.
Switching over to the pacing fillies, Au Jus Hanover made her second appearance of the season and seriously sharpened to close out the Friday session. After a leisurely 1:59.3 stroll seven days ago, the daughter of Stay Hungry - Always True towed driver James MacDonald around the Campbellville oval to the tune of a 1:53.4 score, every call a winning one, and three lengths the best. Pick Me Up Hanover (McNair) was next best, with O'Brien Award finalist Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson) third across the wire.
Tony Beaton trains 2024 Whenuwishuponastar winner Au Jus Hanover for Casie Coleman of Wellington, Fl., Dumain Haven Farm LLC of Pine Bush, N.Y., Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont. and Kevin McKinlay of Holland Landing, Ont.
The full qualifying session is available below.
For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Courts On Fire winning at Yonkers)