Two-year-olds were out and about on Saturday for qualifiers at multiple tracks including Mohawk Racetrack, Georgian Downs and the Meadowlands
.
Pretty Katherine, driven by Robert Shepherd for trainer Casie Coleman, turned in the fastest winning effort during Mohawk Racetrack’s seven-race qualifying session for freshmen. After settling for a two-hole trip, the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Fox Valley Shaker came home in :28-seconds to beat her stablemate, pacesetter Idyllic (Ricky Forgie), by a head in 1:56.2. The $120,000 Harrisburg sale purchase won her second qualifier for owner John Liviakis of Mill Valley, California.
Switching to the trot, Marys Out Cruisin was much the best winning her second qualifier in 2:01 by 12 lengths for teamster Trevor Ritchie and trainer Torgeir Hagmann. The Here Comes Herbie-Mary Lou Hall filly was purchased for $190,000 at the Harrisburg sale by Kjell Magne Andersen of Oslo, Norway and David Goodrow Stable of Cambridge, ON. She is a half-sister to Credit Winner offspring Crazed 3,1:52.2 ($1,072,659) and Gift Card 2,1:55.2 ($254,653).
Also winning their qualifiers were two-year-old pacers Mater Deo (Western Ideal-Life Matters) in 1:59.1 and Playn It Straight (Cams Card Shark-Cambridge United) in 1:59.2, and trotters Uhura (Angus Hall-Armbro Norway) in 2:03.4, Rarely Ordinary (Conway Hall-Mostly Super) in 2:01.4, Assignment (Ken Warkentin-Armbro Whistle) in 2:03.2.
Crys Dream, a two-year-old daughter of Taurus Dream-Crystas Image, kicked off Saturday’s qualifying session at Georgian Downs. With trainer Henrik Hollsten in the bike for Crys Dream's debut, the filly advanced first up from third past the third quarter mark and kicked home in :29.1 to win in 2:01.1 by a length and a quarter over pacesetter Annicrest (Steve Byron). The homebred filly, owned by Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme of Knowlton, QC, is a half-sister to the Kaisy Dream-sired Breeders Crown and Ontario Sires Stakes champion Brigham Dream 4,1:53.2s ($639,981).
South of the border at the Meadowlands Racetrack, a 16-race qualifying session saw some new faces out and about along with some more recognizable names.
Song In A Major and Feel Like A Fool turned in the fastest miles of the babies with their 1:56.2 winning efforts.
Song In A Major rallied from fourth with a :28.1 final frame to win her second qualifier by three-quarters of a length for Yannick Gingras and trainer Linda Toscano. The roan filly, by Art Major-Dreams Made Real, was purchased for $30,000 at the Harrisburg sale by Seth Coen of Brooklyn, Fred Wallace of New York, NY and William Jacobowitz of Monroe TWP, New Jersey.
With Brian Sears at the controls, Feel Like A Fool converted from the pocket and kicked home in :26.4 to win for the second time in three outings for trainer George Teague, Jr. This $30,000 Harrisburg yearling is a son of Art Major out of Fool That I Am. He is owned by Kovach Stables LLC of Milford, George Teague Jr. Inc. of Harrington, Delaware and Theodore Gewertz of New York, NY.
Making her third qualifying start, Muscles Yankee-Marie E Hanover filly Fitness Girl was a wire-to-wire winner in the fastest two-year-old trot in 1:59 with Tim Tetrick in the bike for trainer Steve Elliot and breeder Winbak Farm of Chesapeake City, Maryland. She is a half-sister to Giant Hit gelding Hang Time 4,1:56.3f ($310,486).
Also picking up wins were two-year-old pacer Bubbie Boy (Artiscape-Bubbie Rose) in 1:58 and trotters Mystical Mikel (Conway Hall-Francy Crown) in 2:02.1, Katie Done Did It (Windsongs Legacy-You Have Mail) in 2:00.3 and Whatever It Takes (Credit Winner-Caper Caillie) in 2:01.
Coming off a second-place finish in last Saturday’s Titan Cup, millionaire trotter Lucky Jim also put in a 1:54.4 mile on Saturday for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller. The five-year-old son of S Js Photo-Hawaiian Sierra cleared the lead past the :59.3 half and was at three-quarters in 1:28.4. He then sprinted home in :26-seconds winning by 11-1/2 lengths.
With Yannick Gingras aboard, four-year-old Western Ideal pacing mare Jkmusicofthenite, a winner of $278,394 lifetime, had the fastest final quarter of the day in her 1:53.4 mile. Coming first over from fourth, the Linda Toscano pupil unleashed a :25.2 final kicker to seal the deal.