Under brighter skies than Friday but cooler temperatures than Thursday, Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted older pacers over a 15-dash card of qualifiers on Saturday (May 29).
The fastest mile of the morning came courtesy Hail Christian N. The seven-year-old son of Christian Cullen and driver Chris Christoforou cut the opening quarter of :28.2, yielded to American Wiggle (Louis-Philippe Roy) through middle fractions of :57.2 and 1:26 and then reemerged from the rail at the head of the lane to challenge the leader. Under no urging, Hail Christian N powered home in :27.4 to trip the timer in 1:54.
Tony O'Sullivan trains Hail Christian N for Harcourt Lodge 1 of Orillia, Ont. The import made 10 starts on North American soil in 2020, posting a summary of 2-4-2 including three runner-up finishes in the Preferred ranks.
Matching that 1:54 mile time was a newcomer to the pacing ranks at Mohawk by the name of Premier Delainey. In a trip very similar to that of Hail Christian N, Premier Delainey made the first call for driver Scott Young with :27.4 opener, allowed Alleyesonme As (Roy) to set the tempo through splits of :57.3 and 1:26.1, then angled out in deep stretch to get up for a three-quarter length decision in 1:54.
Now under the tutelage of Bob Young for breeder-owner Premier And Associates Farm of Howell, Mich., Premier Delainey (Always A Virgin - Premier Indigo) was a two-time winner as a sophomore competing in Indiana.
Premier Joy A was a swift winner during the Saturday session, winning his return effort in a time of 1:54.2. Driver Ed Hensley settled the seven-year-old in third as P L Idaho (Ryan Desroche) fronted the field through a :27.4 opener and :56.2 half. Hensley angled his pacer to the outside just before the 1:25.4 third panel and powered past the pacesetter with an eighth to go. Premier Joy A drifted down the lane but still held off the late bid St Lads Thriller (Travis Cullen) by a half a length in 1:54.2, with Nickle Bag (Larry Small) rounding out the top trio.
Trained by Ashleigh Hensley, Premier Joy A (Somebeachsomewhere - Lady Joy) is owned by his trainer and driver. Team Hensley campaigned the pacer in his initial northern hemisphere season, with the then six-year-old winning four starts and banking $25,525.
Qualifying action returns to Woodbine Mohawk Park next Thursday (June 3) as Ontario's harness racing industry continues to prepare for a return to live racing.
To view the results from the Saturday qualifying session, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.