Two-year-old fillies continued preparing for their soon-to-begin racing careers during Thursday morning's (June 24) qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with 11 of the 14 races dedicated to the younger set.
Cheryls Shadow became a two-time baby race winner by way of a 1:56 score in the morning's sixth event. Jonathan Drury secured the pocket with the daughter of Shadow Play, angled off the pegs to engage Galleria Seelster (Dr. Ian Moore) off the home turn, and then duelled her down in a :27.3 sprint home — an identical closing sectional as last week's mile — to win by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Carmen Auciello's Auciello Stables co-own the daughter of Shadow Play and Astrmowin with Cheryl Downer and Amanda Clark.
Darby Ogill also unleashed :27.3 closing speed to win her qualifier, calling every shot on the point through splits of :29, :59.2 and 1:28.4 in line to Sylvain Filion before keeping pocket rival Silent Crossing (Jody Jamieson) 1-3/4 lengths at bay at the end of a 1:56.2 mile. Jacques DuPont trains the daughter of Sunshine Beach and Blackjack Princess for Québécois owners Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc., Gestion C. Levesque 2005 Inc. and Ecurie CSL.
Adare Castle — the two-year-old trotting filly, not the 15th-century Irish landmark — took top billing among square-gaited rookies with a 2:00.3 performance. Bob McClure drove the daughter of Muscle Mass and Pacific Edge in her second qualifier, brushing her from third to the top upon reaching the backstretch and then kicking home in :28.2 to withstand a late push from Baby Longstocking (Doug McNair) by a length.
Trainer Mark Etsell co-owns Adare Castle with Robert Newton, Graham Hopkins and Peter Porter.
Angelonia rebounded from a break on the backstretch to record her second qualifying win, resetting in the breeze and mowing down Etsell's Allisonann Hanover by a neck in 2:01.2. Tyler Moore drove the daughter of Archangel and Fabulous Tag for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, who shares ownership with Frank Cannon.
Nearly a month after his first qualifier of 2021, Pemberton resurfaced, vaulting from the pocket with just over a quarter mile remaining and throwing down a vicious :26.4 closing sectional to defeat Stormont Charlotte by 13 lengths in 1:56.4. Trevor Henry drove the four-year-old Wheeling N Dealin gelding for trainer Paul Walker and owners Brenda and Christine Walker.
The complete broadcast of Thursday's qualifiers appears below.
To view Thursday morning's complete results, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifier).