The Friday morning session of baby races at Woodbine Mohawk Park featured a number of impressive performances from two-year-olds whose connections were looking for some additional seasoning before making pari-mutuel debuts.
Trotting colt Father Corby (Chris Christoforou) forged first-up in the back half of his second qualifying appearance of the season, powering to the front in the stretch and holding off a late surge from On A Streak (Bob McClure) to win by a half-length in 1:59.3. Golden Compass (Blair Burgess) finished third.
Owned by trainer Dustin Jones along with Hebert Horses Inc. and SJLN Racing Inc. of Quebec, Father Corby (Father Patrick - Cartier Hall) was a $50,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase.
Pacing colt Aime Hanover make a miscue in his qualifying debut a week ago -- one of the few Casie Coleman Herlihy pupils that didn't win a qualifier last Saturday -- but he was on his best behaviour for his second outing. Driver Jonathan Drury settled the son of Betting Line - Allamerican Coed into third early, moved to the lead down the backstretch and reeled off a :56.1 back half to trip the timer in 1:55.1 -- the fastest pacing mile from the rookie set on Friday. Bottle Rocket was more than four lengths back in the leader in second with Moonshine Willy (Scott Wray) closing well for third by 11-1/2 lengths.
Aime Hanover was plucked from Harrisburg for $100,000 by West Wins Stable, Steve Heimbecker, Michael Cote Gagnon and Kevin McKinlay.
For the results from the Friday session of qualifiers, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Baby Races).