A few of last year's top rookies in Ontario made their first strides toward sophomore stakes campaigns in Thursday morning's (May 27) 14-race qualifying bonanza at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which consisted exclusively of three-year-old pacers.
Bulldog Hanover, who capped a four-win rookie season with a resounding nine-length score in the $250,000 Ontario Super Final on Oct. 17, made his first appearance since then a victorious one, winning his qualifier in 1:55.2. The son of Shadow Play tracked contently from third through a :59.4 half mile before Jody Jamieson angled him off the pegs midway on the far turn. After passing pacesetter Island Beach Boy off the corner form home, Bulldog Hanover accelerated away through an individually-clocked :26.3 final split to win by two lengths for owner-trainer Jack Darling.
Top speed honours on the session were shared by Bet On Becky and Marlbank Road, both recording 1:54.3 miles.
Bet On Becky, who won the first four races of her career — including three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold legs — before breaking stride in the Eternal Camnation, rode a cosy pocket trip under Jody Jamieson behind Alumni Seelster (Dr. Ian Moore) through splits of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:26.3 before edging out at head-stretch to overtake Alumni Seelster and subsequently fend off a late challenge from Cyclone Sister (Jonathan Drury) by three-quarters of a length. Dave Menary trains the daughter of Bettors Delight for Larry Menary, Kenneth Ewen, Alan Alber and Michael Guerriero.
Marlbank Road equalled Bet On Becky's mark in his qualifier, clearing from post 10 in line to Phil Hudon and narrowly staving off a late push from No Plan Intended (Jamieson) to prevail by a neck. The Sportswriter gelding did not race as a two-year-old, but posted a win and a second-place finish in five early-season conditioned events this spring before the forced hiatus. Trainer Leo Fleming shares ownership of the sophomore with Steven Papillon and Gerald Lilley.
Woodbine Mohawk Park's broadcast of the entire qualifying session appears below:
An all-trot qualifying card is slated for Friday morning (May 28), with the first of 15 heats — 10 of them restricted to three-year-olds — due off at 9:30 a.m.
To view Thursday's complete results, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).