A trifecta of popular 2024 O'Brien Award winners took centre stage during the session of qualifiers on Friday, May 2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
While two of those O'Brien Award winners — Horse of the Year Chantilly and Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year Monalishi — had already reacquainted themselves with the Campbellville confines this season, one was back in action for a charted appearance at Mohawk for the first time in seven months: track record holder Highland Kismet.
The 2024 O'Brien Award winner as Canada's Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year, Highland Kismet towed trainer Mark Etsell around the seven-eighths mile oval with ease on Friday morning, concluding a 1:55 mile with a :27.4 under wraps final quarter and a headwind hitting horses in the stretch.
Breeder Highland Thoroughbred Farm of Inglewood, Ont. holds the papers on Highland Kismet, who posted a 8-2-0 summary from 17 starts in his three-year-old year while banking $727,850.
The third time was the charm for Monalishi, as the now three-year-old trotting filly took matters into her own hands during the qualifying session and looked awesome while doing so. Clearing to command for driver James MacDonald through a :57.3 half, Monalishi followed that up with a :57.1 back half to cruise under the wire 18 lengths the best after the 1:54.4 mile.
Blake MacIntosh trains and co-owns Monalishi, the 2024 O'Brien Award winner as Canada's Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year, along with Tim Klemencic. The daughter of Green Manalishi S - Pretty Phylly G sports a record of 1:52.2 and earnings of $562,811 from her award-winning season with six wins and eight top-two finishes.
The 2024 Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year, Chantilly made her second sophomore appearance during the qualifying session and — once again — crossed the wire long before her competition. After a :59.1 front half, Chantilly carted driver MacDonald through a :55.4 back half to trip the timer in 1:55 some seven lengths ahead of her closest pursuer.
A two-time O'Brien Award winner herself, Chantilly (Big Jim - Shiraz Seelster) is campaigned by the decorated team of 2024 Trainer of the Year Nick Gallucci, three-time Armstrong Breeder of the Year Millar Farms and four-timer Keith Waples Driver of the Year James MacDonald. The filly is perfect in nine starts with a mark of 1:50.2 and $761,000 in purse earnings.
Of note, duel 2024 Ontario Sires Stakes champion Crack Shot was successful in his return to Ontario after two Florida qualifiers. Doug McNair handled the Bettors Delight - Beautyonthebeach colt during his 1:54.3 romp over D A Love Boat (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Boxer Seelster (Trevor Henry) for trainer-owner Gregg McNair and co-owners Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle and George Kerr.
Late season sensation Ervin Hanover made his first charted appearance in more than four months, making every call a winning one for driver Roy, trainer David Menary and owner Pollack Racing LLC. The five-year-old Captaintreacherous - Eloquent Grace horse made every call during his morning assignment, and passed with flying colours. The 16-time winner completed his mile in 1:53.1.
The full video stream is available below.
For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
(Standardbred Canada)