O'Brien Award winners Blue Porsche and Idyllic took to Mohawk Racetrack during the Thursday, May 19 qualifying session to record their first charted racelines of the 2011 season
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After overnight rains, the 'fast' track was given a one-second allowance in time by the presiding Ontario Racing Commission judges.
Valley Victory, Bluegrass and Champlain Stakes winner Blue Porsche kicked off the session for driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Blair Burgess in Race 1.
After starting from Post 2, Ritchie and the three-year-old Glidemaster colt got away fourth into the 29-second opening quarter. Ritchie moved the 2010 O'Brien Award winner as Canada's Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year to the front in the second quarter and clicked off the opening half-mile in :58.3. Ritchie and the career winner of $405,661 were challenged by Pile Driver JT (driven by Scott Zeron) along the final turn, but Blue Porsche was still best by a head at the 1:27.4 three-quarters station. Trotting home with a :28.2 final panel, Blue Porsche, a Canadian Record holder, went on to post a one-length victory over Pile Driver JT in 1:56.1.
“That right about where we wanted to go,” Burgess told the Woodbine Entertainment Group afterward. “The track was a little off this morning so I’d allow a second or two.
“I’m not sure what the immediate plan is for him. We're concentrating on the Goodtimes as his first major test. I don’t think we will go to a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes event, so we might qualify him again in 10 days or look for an overnight.”
Race 4 saw Canada's 2010 Two-Year-old Pacing Filly of the Year, Idyllic, take to the track for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Casie Coleman.
After starting from Post 6, MacDonald and the Three Diamonds and Shes A Great Lady Stakes winner went to the front and carved out the fractions in :27.2, :55.3 and 1:24. Although, the pocket-sitter, three-year-old Western Hanover filly Strike An Attitude, who was also making her 2011 charted debut, was sharp in the lane for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Bob McIntosh. She came out of the garden spot and went on to record a one and three-quarter-length win in a sharp 1:52.3 off a :28.1 final quarter. Idyllic finished second and was individually timed in 1:53.
“She (Idyllic) qualified awesome, but we have to make a few equipment changes,” said Coleman, who mentioned that Idyllic would most likely be back to qualify next week. “She was very hot today for Mark (MacDonald), she had trouble relaxing so we’ll make a few changes. She was under wraps today with the earplugs still in.”
Race 2 and 3 saw three-year-olds eligible to the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup take to the track.
Race 2 saw Manchester Hanover, who has been assessed at odds of 65-1 in Trot Magazine's 2011 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book, record a one and three-quarter-length win in 1:55.1 for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Casie Coleman.
The Western Ideal gelding had left from Post 6 and was overland in second when the opening quarter was cut in :29. After clearing to the front, Manchester Hanover went on to cut the middle fractions in :58.1 and 1:27 before kicking home in :28.3. With Manchester Hanover opting for the top, fellow NA Cup eligible Mickey Hanover (100-1 in Spring Book) was able to take a pocket ride and finish second. The Panderosa colt is trained by Dave O'Brian, who was also performing the driving duties this morning.
Race 3 saw the Mark MacDonald-driven and Casie Coleman-trained The Panderosa gelding Ohmygosh Hanover (55-1 in Spring Book) go straight to the top, carve the fractions (:28.4, :59, 1:28) and kick home in :28.1 for a wire-to-wire, 1:56.1, neck victory.
The 2010 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Final winner Tamarind qualified in style in Race 5, as the Mark MacDonald-driven and Mark Steacy-trained Angus Hall sophomore converted a pocket trip into a two and a quarter-length victory in 1:58.
Race 7 saw Mark MacDonald and Casie Coleman click once again with four-year-old Western Terror mare Western Silk. After leaving from Post 5, the lass sliced all the fractions (:28.2, :58.1 and 1:26) and kicked home in 28 seconds en route to a 10 and a quarter-length win in 1:54.
“She qualified absolutely awesome today. What can you say about her, she’s just unreal,” Coleman said. “We wont qualify her again; she’s ready to go. I’ll look to race her next weekend at Mohawk.”
It was Coleman and MacDonald once again in Race 9, as four-year-old Art Major horse Kyle Major recorded a two and a half-length victory in 1:56.1.
To view the results from Thursday's qualifying session from Mohawk Racetrack, click here.