Mohawk Racetrack hosted a full slate of 25 qualifiers for two-year-olds on Friday morning in Campbellville, Ont.
Two-year-old filly Seashell Hanover paced the fastest mile of the session, clocking her first qualifier in 1:55.3 with a :28.1 final frame for trainer Gregg McNair and New York owners William Switala and James Martin. Driven by Chris Matthews, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere and Strolly Up Bluechip won by half a length over Performing Art with stablemate Barefoot Beauty three lengths behind.
McNair also sent out two other qualifying winners on the day with pacing colt Three Of Clubs (Mach Three-CC Kloe) winning in 1:57.2 and filly Precocious Bunny (Art Major-Precious Beauty), a half-sister to Sportswriter ($1,649,411, 1:48.3), winning in 1:58.2.
Ari Allstar was the fastest pacing colt of the day, winning his second qualifying mile in 1:56.1 for trainer Jeff Gillis and co-owners Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., Big Als Stables Inc. of Woodbridge, Ont., and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, New York. Driven by Jody Jamieson, Ari Allstar sat sixth in the field of nine early on and later kicked home in :27.1 to win by nearly four lengths. He is a son of Art Major out The Panderosa mare Ask Alice, a half-sister to Western Ace ($1,924,290, 1:48.4).
Windsun Revenge, driven by Rick Zeron, posted the fastest mile on the trot after closing from the pocket in :29.3 to stop the timer in 2:00.1 in his debut. Jeff Durham trains and co-owns the son of Kadabra and Oaklea Polly with Robert Van Camp of Port Perry, Ont.
After breaking stride in her first outing on June 8, Riveting Rosie topped the trotting fillies with a 2:00.2 wire-to-wire win by nearly eight lengths. Paul MacDonell drove the Muscle Mass-Rose De Vie Stena miss for trainer John Bax and Ontario owners Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough, Don Allensen of Wyoming and Sharon's Joseph Parkinson and John Hayes.
Bob McIntosh homebreds Somewhere In LA (1:58.1), a pacing colt by Somebeachsomewhere out of Thinking Out Lou's ($1,278,701, 1:47.4) half-sister West Of L A, and trotting filly Lenny Mac (2:03.3), a daughter of Kadabra and Lend A Hand, won their respective qualifying debuts.
Trainer Bernie Noren also has two winners with a pair of Kadabra offspring. Trotting gelding British Steel (Kadabra-Come Home Et) won his first qualifier in 2:06 and filly Belgrava, whose dam Stonebridge Encore is a full-sister to Peaceful Way ($3,245,055, 1:51.4), rebounded from a break in her debut last weekend to win in 2:02.4.
Eddie Green trainees Valorcross (2:00.2) and Alerthemedia (2:03.4) were another pair of winning stablemates. The trotting colts are both sired by Cornaro Dasolo and have won back-to-back baby races.
O'Brien Award winner American Jewel's ($1,834,823, 1:48.2) half-brother Lucky Be Withyou drew off to win his qualifying debut by nearly seven lengths in 1:57.3 with a :28.1 final frame for trainer Bill Cass with Phil Hudon aboard. The son of Western Ideal out of Trim Hanover was purchased for $77,000 at the Lexington Select Sale by John Craig of North York, Ont.
Tothepoint James was a 2:02.1 trot winner for trainer-driver Wayne Henry. The son of Deweycheatumnhowe, who is out of Quebec champion mare Garland Bonita, is a half-brother to Ontario Sires Stakes champion Pointe Of Honour ($479,018, 1:54.4) and Henry trainees Counter Pointe ($239,710, 1:57.3) and the late Pointe To Pointe ($168,307, 1:58.3).
The half-brother to Watermelonwine ($425,424, 1:49.2), Twomikeytrip (Mach Three-Arukiddinme) won his qualifying debut in 1:57.4 with a :28.1 final quarter for trainer Richard Fife.
To view Friday's complete qualifying results, click on the following link: Friday Results (Qualifiers) - Mohawk Racetrack.
On Saturday morning, Meadowlands Racetrack will feature no less than 19 qualifiers for two-year-olds.