Sportswriter To Qualify Thursday

Off a victorious qualifier last week, 2009 O'Brien Award and Metro Pace winner Sportswriter has been entered to qualify Thursday morning at Mohawk Racetrack with driver Mark MacDonald listed to drive

.

The Casie Coleman-trained son of Artsplace is slated to contest Race 8 during the nine-dash qualifying program. The World Record holder will start from Post 6 in a field of nine.

A winner of seven of eight races in 2009 and $875,411 in purses, Sportswriter has recorded a pair of qualifying efforts so far this year, the last if week came on May 13 at Mohawk, a one-length win in 1:56. To read a recap of that qualifying session, click here.

The Mohawk qualifying session will also see 2010 Damsel Pacing Series winner Cats Meow put in her first charted mile since winning the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit event in late March. The four-year-old Goliath Bayama mare will be performing in Race 1 for trainer Dr. John Hayes and driver Randy Waples.

Race 2 will see the 2010 charted debut of Yursa Hanover for trainer Ben Baillargeon and driver Mario Baillargeon. The four-year-old Windsongs Legacy mare was solid in North American stakes engagements last year at three. She ended off her campaign by capturing her division of the Matron Stakes in mid November at Dover Downs.

Mohawk's third race will see the return of hard-knocking older pacing horse Dali for trainer Rene Allard and driver Luc Ouellette. The five-year-old Real Artist horse won the 2010 edition of the Spring Pacing Championship in early April, but has not raced pari-mutuelly since. The career winner of over $1.3 million in purses did qualify in 1:53.3 on April 29, but has not put in a charted line since.

Race 4 will see the classy six-year-old gelding Before He Cheats put in his second qualifying mile of the season. The son of Valley Victor last raced pari-mutuelly July 25, 2009 at Mohawk. Kevin O'Reilly trains Before he Cheats, who is scheduled to be driven by Trevor Ritchie.

To view the entries for the Mohawk qualifying session, click here.

As per usual, the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey will also be hosting qualifying dashes Thursday morning, but at a much-reduced amount this week, as only eight races are scheduled to go behind the gate.

The second race of the Meadowlands card will feature a pair of three-year-old colts that will be putting in their second qualifying miles of the season. Revenue S colt Break The Bank K and Broadway Hall colt
Pilgrims Taj will be leaving from Post 1 and 2, respectively.

Race 3 will be the scene of Costa Rica's fourth qualifying effort of the year for trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Ron Pierce.

To view the entries for the Meadowlands' qualifying session, click here.