The fourth set of baby races went to post at Gaitway Farm on Monday (June 28) as part of the 12-race qualifying session.
Mcclelland Hanover topped the freshmen pacing colts and geldings with a 1:55.3 mile for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras. The son of Captaintreacherous kicked away from the field through fractions of :29.3, :58.3 and 1:26.1 before slowing into the stretch but managing to hold a one-length lead at the finish over Quick Snap closing for second. Bet On Yourself, off a pocket trip, gave chase in third.
Of the three divisions for freshmen pacing fillies, the fastest mile came from the final split with Tony Alagna pupil Hamptons Babe blazing to a 1:53.4 win. Driver Andrew McCarthy secured command to a :29.1 first quarter with the daughter of American Ideal and rated through middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:25.3 to then hold off a pocket pop from Nite Time Deal through the stretch by a half length. Wine N Dine Me took third another seven lengths behind with Rhodium finishing fourth.
“She’s come a long way in the last month,” McCarthy said about Hamptons Babe, who won a qualifier at Gaitway on June 21 in 1:56.1. “She was quite good last week, and they made a couple of adjustments for this week and she’s a little better gaited and a little stronger finishing. She went a big trip today. I think she’s a very nice filly.”
The lone event for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings went to the Trixton colt Gigondas off a pocket ride in 1:58.2. Another starter from the Tony Alagna barn, Gigondas pushed for the pocket from the pylon post and stalked temposetter Monis Heaven Cent through splits of :31, 1:00.4 and 1:29.2. Once angled off the pegs, Gigondas collared the tiring leader and hit the finish a half-length better than rallying Kosher Mahoney. Southwind Arturo finished third while Monis Heaven Cent faded to fourth.
“He’s got some serious gears, that horse,” McCarthy said of Gigondas. “He’s definitely got a lot of speed. Once he gets a little smarter, he’ll be a very nice colt.”
Alagna also sent the quickest trotting filly of their two dashes when Pink Coco Chanel stopped the clock in 1:57.2 going away. The Cantab Hall filly grabbed control past a :30.2 opening quarter and cruised through a :59.3 half and to three-quarters in 1:27.4. When straightening for home, she kicked loose for driver Andrew McCarthy and passed the beam 4 3/4 lengths better than Riding High taking second. Rosaline finished third another 11 lengths back with Double Red checking in fourth.
“She’s a very, very nice filly,” McCarthy said about Pink Coco Chanel. “She did it quite easily. She can carry speed so easily, she’s quite exciting, actually.”
The entire qualifying session is available in the broadcast replay below:
(with files from USTA)