Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to a modest six-race qualifying session on Tuesday (June 18). One particular Standardbred took the opportunity to capture the spotlight, as he undoubtedly recorded the fastest mile of his 16-race career.
The Standardbred in question is the Roll With Joe four-year-old Joe Six Pack, a career winner of three races that lowered his mark to 1:54.1 last summer over Vernon Downs.
The gelding started from the rail over a ‘fast’ track in the first of Mohawk’s morning dashes. Pilot Jody Jameson didn’t waste any time getting Joe Six Pack into things, as the pair fired from Post 1 and were first to the quarter pole in :28.1.
Jameson and ‘Joe’ had extended their lead to three and a half lengths by the time they passed the half-mile pole in :56.2. They tacked another two lengths to their lead on the turn, as they were up by five and half lengths by the time they spun off three quarters in 1:23.4.
Although they had a comfortable lead and could’ve shut things down through the lane, Jameson and Joe Six Pack continued home with a 28-second final quarter and paced under the wire in a sharp 1:51.4. The hard-closing Better Be Donna N narrowed the winning margin to two and a quarter lengths after having come home with a big back half.
Owner Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont. purchased Joe Six Pack in July of last year and shipped him to the barn of trainer Carmen Auciello. Joe Six Pack has now raced in six qualifiers and three pari-mutuel tilts this season, and his Tuesday morning performance was certainly the sharpest of them all.
Knopfler (1:57.3), Springbridge Sassy (1:54.4), Pink Pistol (1:56.3), Dragon Teeth (1:55) and Club Belvedere (1:57.4) also recorded wins during the session.
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).