Mohawk Racetrack sent a compact qualifying docket to post this morning, as only six dashes went behind the gate, but that didn't stop a pair of Pepsi North America Cup eligibles from making their
seasonal charted debuts.
The first of the 'Cup'-eligible three-year-olds to hit the track was the Apaches Fame colt Twin B Warrior, which has been assessed as a 38-1 shot in Trot Magazine's 2010 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
With driver Jody Jamieson in tow, the Jeff Gillis-trained bay started from Post 8 in Race 2. The duo settled into fourth early and watched from there as the fractions were carved out in :29.1, :59.1 and 1:28.3. Jamieson had Twin B Warrior started up in the third panel, as he had him on the outside gearing up for an advance. The colt was dueling for the lead by the time the head of the stretch was reached. He went on to post a three-quarters of one length win in 1:56.1 and paced home with a :27.1 final quarter.
Gillis recently discussed Twin B Warrior with Trot Insider, expanding on how the colt wintered, among other things.
Twin B Warrior was lightly raced at two, as he raced four times. He won three races, all at the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots level, including his $100,000 Grassroots final in 1:53.3 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
The second of the Cup eligibles to hit the track this morning was Art N Charm (85-1 in Spring Book), an Artsplace colt trained by Robbie Roberts.
In rein to pilot Sylvain Filion in Race 4, Art N Charm left from Post 6 and made every pole a winning one. The bay cut the fractions in :28.2, :59.1 and 1:28.3 before coming home in :28.1 for a two and a quarter-length victory in 1:56.4.
To view the charted harness racing results from this morning's qualifying session at Mohawk, click here.