After a conservative qualifying effort in his 2020 charted debut last week, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, Forbidden Trade, tasted victory during Woodbine Mohawk Park's Tuesday, June 9 qualifying session.
The 2019 Hambletonian winner had his regular pilot, Bob McClure, in the sulky, and the duo lined up in Post 3 for the second race of the morning session, which was contested over a 'fast' track.
The career winner of $1.37-million in purses floated out from the gate and McClure positioned the son of Kadabra into the three-hole early, prior to the :29.2 quarter pole.
McClure and Forbidden Trade watched from third as the opening half was clicked off in :59.1, but the duo wouldn't be sitting for too long.
Forbidden Trade was tipped out as the three-quarters pole neared. A reading of 1:28.2 flashed up for three quarters, and at that point Forbidden Trade was just starting to begin his ascent.
Although it didn't appear as though McClure asked him for any real trot at any point in the mile, Forbidden Trade got up with ease when it mattered. He closed with a :27.2 final quarter and posted an effortless, one-length win in 1:56.2. The career winner of 15 of his 25 races is trained by Luc Blais and is owned by the Determination stable of Montreal, Quebec.
The Ontario Sires Stakes' 2019 Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot Grassroots Championship winner Lovedbythemasses also stood out during the session, as the three-year-old son of Muscle Mass posted a 1:55.3 win for driver Mike Saftic and trainer Ed Peconi in Race 3.
Race 4 saw three-year-old Captaintreacherous filly Sure Do Love You record the first charted line of her career, which was a 1:58.3 closing win for driver Scott Young and trainer Chantal Mitchell. The bay was a $150,000 yearling sale purchase in 2018.
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifiers at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).