A slew of baby races circled the track at Magical Acres on Wednesday morning (June 23) with a total of 13 events for two-year-olds on the 15-qualifier session.
Arsonist fired from the pocket in the first division of the two-year-old colt and gelding pace to post the fastest mile for his division with a 1:55.3 clocking. The Chris Ryder-trained son of Captaintreacherous cruised behind pacesetter Stonebridge Karis through fractions of :28.4, :57.4 and 1:27. As the field headed for the finish, driver Dexter Dunn angled Arsonist out of the pocket and lunged to the lead while holding off a late charge from Jabberwocky by a neck. Barefoot Blazer rallied for third another length behind.
Wickedly Innocent topped the two-year-old pacing fillies with a 1:55.1 mile off a pocket trip. Driver Jack Pelling settled the daughter of American Ideal behind pacesetter New View through fractions of :29.2, :57.4 and 1:26.4 before sending his charge out of the two-hole and taking the lead through the stretch. The Brett Pelling trainee strolled 1 3/4 lengths in front of New View with Syn Again finishing another five lengths behind in third.
Robertsin returned off a baby race win last week to coast again over the Chesterfield oval, going the quickest mile of the baby trotting colts and geldings with a 1:59.4 clocking. Driver George Brennan sent Roberstin for the front this week and posted a clip of :31.1, 1:01.3 and 1:30.4 while gradually expanding his margin on the field. He continued to draw clear through the stretch, hitting the beam 8 1/4 lengths in front of Sebago with Stride The Hill finishing third. Nik Drennan trains the son of Muscle Hill.
Despite final-turn traffic, Shes A Scorcher swept down the center of the track to land at the finish of the fastest mile on the day for two-year-old trotting fillies – sticking a nose in front at the beam in 2:00.4. The daughter of Chapter Seven raced fourth to a :31.2 first quarter as Seven Cupids rolled out of third to take the lead. Past the half in 1:00.3, Seven Cupids drifted off the pegs up the backside, causing the field to scatter wide through three-quarters in 1:31. Shes A Scorcher came calling widest of all to collar Hallance, who scooted up the pylons through the confusion, while pocket-sitter Xiomara finished third. David Miller drove the Linda Toscano trainee.
Later in the qualifying card, 2019 freshman Ontario Sires Stakes champ Alicorn won in 1:55.1 in her second mile of the year. The now four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight pulled pocket past a :30.3 opening quarter to take control and lead the field through middle sectionals of :58.3 and 1:26.3. Off the final turn, Alicorn edged away from pocket-sitter Espresso Martini to win by three lengths in the dual-gaited affair. Andrew McCarthy sat in the bike for trainer Darran Cassar, who has conditioned the filly since she shipped south from trainer Chantal Mitchell’s barn at the end of 2020.