Two-year-old fillies took to the track on a beautiful Thursday morning, June 13 for a 10-race qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park with pacer Dee and trotter Monalishi making quick early strides in their careers.
Dee topped the first set of pacing fillies with the fastest mile time of the morning.
Driven by Trevor Henry for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, the career-debuting Dee fronted the field through fractions of :31.4, 1:01.4 and 1:30.2 en route to the victory in 1:58.2 by 4-1/2 lengths.
Bred by Southwind Farms, the filly is sired by Bettors Delight and is the fourth foal out of the unraced Well Said mare, Silent Serenity, a half sibling to former Mohawk Preferred pacer Ellis Park ($856,320, 1:48.4s). Dee was a $17,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Standardbred Horse Sale by Wilma and James MacKenzie of Ennismore, Ont., and Paul Chapman of Oakville, Ont.
The Gregg McNair-trained Spoiled Beauty, a half-sister to O'Brien Award winners Sportswriter and Precocious Beauty, overtook Dear Abbey in the stretch for second with a :27.3 final frame.
Monalishi turned in a two-minute mile, quickest among the trotters during Thursday's session, for her second consecutive winning baby race for trainer Blake MacIntosh.
After following in the pocket through a 1:02 half, driver Jody Jamieson looped Monalishi to the lead on the way to three-quarters in 1:31.3 before drawing off by 10 lengths with a :28.2 final frame. Early leader Magic Six stayed for second with Dartford completing the top three.
MacIntosh purchased the daughter of Green Manalishi S from the 2023 Standardbred Horse Sale for $28,000 with partner Tim Klemencic of Trenton, Ont. Bred by Shmuel Farhi of London, Ont., Monalishi is the fourth foal out of the RC Royalty mare Pretty Phylly G, a sister to millionaire stallion Royalty For Life.
The same connections also watched Sister Sara (Green Manalishi S-Nancy Allison) prevail in her second qualifier in 2:02.2 with Sylvain Filion aboard. The MacIntosh stable tripled up, also sending out two-time qualifying winner Medley Seelster (Wheeling N Dealin-Daylon Melody) with Tyler Borth guiding her in a 2:02.3 mile.
A replay of the COSA-TV video stream from the qualifiers is available below.
The colts will be showcased during Friday morning's two-year-old qualifiers at Mohawk.
To view Thursday's complete qualifying results, click the following link: Thursday Results (Qualifiers) - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)