Another qualifying session featuring harness racing's up-and-coming stars was held Friday morning at Mohawk Racetrack.
Tarpon Hanover closed out the 11 race session for freshman pacers with the fastest mile of the day. Driven by Scott Zeron, the Badlands Hanover-Tarport Herald colt sat sixth through early fractions of :30.1 and 1:00.1 in his second qualifier before advancing first over en route to the 1:29.1 third quarter mark. Tarpon Hanover then unleashed :26.4 final quarter speed to sweep by the leading Ok Fabulous for the two and a half length victory in 1:56.4.
The $82,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase is owned by Cheltenham trainer David Menary, along with Brad Gray of Dundas, Bruce Norris of Caledon East, and Denis Breton of Welland. Tarpon Hanover is a half-brother to sub-1:50 pacer Tarver Hanover ($829,919) and Tarpaulin Hanover ($614,437).
Menary trainee Ok Feisty, a daughter of Modern Art out of Camaronni N Cheese, also won her second qualifier in 1:58.3 while Slight Touch, a son of Badlands Hanover out Touch Of Silk, earned his second straight qualifying win in 2:00.4.
Zeron also drove the debuting Ron Adams trainee, Moe Rocks, to a three-quarter length victory in 1:57.1 (:27.4 final quarter). The Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Maureen colt is a full-brother to Open mare Maureen Rocks ($212,346) and a half-sibling to Grin Some More ($607,146) and French Panicure ($997,902), who all took marks of 1:49 and change. Moe Rocks was purchased for $50,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale by Dale Towle of Leamington and Ronald Haskell of Windsor.
Victoria Semalu held off pocket-sitter Island Blue in the fastest filly mile, timed in 1:57 flat. The debuting American Ideal-Anemone Semalu miss, a half-sister to sub-1:50 pacing mare Esmeralda Semalu ($424,263), was driven by Sylvain Filion for Saint-Lazare trainer Rene Dion and owner Zoom And Fish Stable Inc. of Laval, Que.
Among Friday's winners were Rachel Welch, a half-sister to Galimony ($485,913) and world champion Big McDeal ($365,070). The Real Desire-Ideal Gal filly, driven by Randy Waples, rallied home in :27.2 after sitting third most of the way to win her first charted mile in 1:57.1 by one length for Cambridge trainer and owner Jack Darling, whose Jack Darling Stables Ltd. purchased her for $25,000 at the Lexington sale.
Bad Boy Hill came home in :27.1 to win his second qualifying start in 1:57 flat in rein to Robert Shepherd. The Stonebridge Regal-Asleep Onthe Beach colt is trained by Rod Boyd for Great Britain's Tom Hill. The half-brother to Art Colony ($863,750) and Triple Bars ($581,511) was a $50,000 yearling purchase from the Forest City Sale.
To view Friday's complete qualifying results, click on the following link: Friday Results (Qualifiers) - Mohawk Racetrack.