Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted a seven-race qualifying session on Tuesday (July 30). Four baby races were on the docket, which was highlighted by the career charted debut of a full sister to the accomplished, two-time O'Brien Award winner L A Delight.
In what was her career charted debut, Miss L A (Bettors Delight—West Of LA), the two-year-old full sister to L A Delight (p,3,1:49.1f [$1,782,999]), was tops in Race 2 for trainer Bob McIntosh and driver Trevor Henry. The bay got away fourth from Post 2 and surveyed the leaders through the opening quarter (:31.3) and half (1:01.4). It was a different story by the three-quarter pole, though. Miss L A was on top by two and a half lengths when she tripped the third clock in 1:32.2. She and Henry cruised home with a 30-second final quarter to notch a three and three-quarter-length victory in 2:02.2. Miss L A is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., Deo Volente Farms LLC and Cool Cat Racing Inc.
The first of the morning’s two-year-old qualifiers took place in Race 1, as the Jason McGinnis-trained and James MacDonald-driven Nancy Allison (Donato Hanover–Christina M) left from Post 1 and trotted to a gate-to-wire, neck victory in 2:02.4. The $22,000 Lexington Selected yearling buy is owned by Thestable Nancy Allison, of Guelph, Ont.
The third race of the session saw the Colonel Schneider-trained and Mike Saftic-driven Spun From Magic (Kadabra—Im A Munchie Girl) come first-up from third and trot away to a three and a half-length win in 2:04.3. Schneider owns the two-year-old bay colt, who took his qualifying mark at first asking with the morning mile.
The Casie Coleman-trained and Jonathan Drury-driven Aces Rock (Bettors Delight—Double Jeopardy) won the last of the session’s baby races, as the gelded bay converted a two-hole trip into a three-quarter-length victory in 1:56.1. After having started from Post 4, the $140,000 Lexington Selected yearling purchase sat through the fractions (:27.4, :57.3, 1:27.2) and pounced late to record his qualifying mark. Aces Rock is owned by the West Wins Stable, Mac Nichol, Gerald Stay and Brad Grant.
A pair of notable Luc Blais-trained stars also recorded some tightening miles in the session, as Emoticon Hanover and Forbidden Trade each contested Race 5. Emoticon Hanover and Forbidden Trade raced first and second, respectively, through the mile. Randy Waples was at Emoticon Hanover’s controls and the duo went gate to wire from Post 8 and stopped the clock in 1:57.3. Bob McClure and Forbidden Trade finished one and a quarter lengths back in second.
McClure told Trot Insider after the mile that Forbidden Trade was "awesome" and not to be distracted by the time. He is hoping, after all, to race two heats on Saturday in the $1 million Hambletonian.
Another Blais trainee, Dream Together, took to the track for Race 7 and produced a wire-to-wire win in 1:58 for driver Bob McClure.
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifying).