Macho Martini, one of the two Luc Blais stablemates that earned nominations as Canada's two-year-old colt trotter of the year in 2020, found the wire first on Tuesday in preparation for his sophomore debut.
The Muscle Mass colt, a winner of more than $454,000 at two when he captured eight of 11 races and was second in his Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final, took the lead after the quarter in his qualifier on Tuesday (June 1) at Harrah's Philadelphia then blitzed home with a pair of :28.2 quarters to complete his mile in 1:58.4 under the guidance of Bob McClure.
The team of trainer Blais and owner Determination produced a pair of qualifying triumphs. The Bar Hopping three-year-old trotting filly My Abigail, who won her career debut in a PA Stallion Series event recently, tallied in 1:56.3 with Andrew McCarthy at the helm. Her stablemate, 2020 O'Brien Award winner Donna Soprano — who was interfered with badly and then broke trying to get back into the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event that was her 2021 bow — was third in the same qualifier, finished strongly and timed in 1:57 - :28.3.
Philly's first two-year-olds of 2021 surfaced during Tuesday morning qualifiers, with trainer Clifton Green and driver Ray Baynes combining for victories behind a pair of freshman trotters.
The Explosive Matter – Brooke Blue Chip filly Blue Tesla sat in the pocket, moved to challenge, and then drew off in the stretch by six lengths in 2:04.1. She trotted her own last half in 1:00.2 and showed great promise for the LCT Stable. The other Green/Baynes winner was the Sebastian K – Dancing Flames gelding Donzel Hanover, who set the pace, then came home in :30.2 to hold safe stablemate Kosher Mahoney by a neck in 2:07 for owner Steven Mullen.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)