A pair of first foals flashed the fleetest of foot during the Friday, July 4 session of two-year-old qualifiers at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
There were a dozen dashes delivered on Friday morning, with pacer Illicit Behaviour and trotter Royal Captain coming out of their prep miles with the swiftest speed badges for their respective gaits.
Illicit Behavior kicked off the 12-race qualifying session with the fastest mile of the day, a 1:55.2 effort. Bob McClure positioned the son of Bettors Delight - Pettycoat Business behind pacesetter Lyons Scooting (Tyler Borth) through fractions of :29.2, :58.4 and 1:28 before angling from the pocket at the head of the lane and sprinting home with a :27.1 final quarter to secure the victory. Major Money (James MacDonald) closed well to finish second some three lengths back with Car Wash Blues (Billy Davis, Jr.) next across the wire.
Shawn Steacy trains Illicit Behavior, a $94,595 Lexington yearling purchase by Landmark 18 Racing Stable of Lansdowne, Ont., Hudson Standrdbrd Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que. and David Reid of Sydenham, Ont. from breeders Steve Stewart, Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo and James Daut.
With a gait and presence that resembled his sire, Captain Corey, Royal Captain impressed in his debut with a 1:57.2 tally as the fastest trotting freshman of the morning. Sitting second early, Royal Captain and driver Tyler Jones looped Toss Of The Dice (Borth) at the 1:01 half and then trotted his back half in :56.2 (:28.3 / :27.4) for the three-quarter length score over that rival with Dream For Peace (McClure) some 20-plus lengths in arrears.
The first foal of former Dustin Jones pupil You Will Be Queen, Royal Captain was a $141,892 Lexington yearling bred by Dustin Jones Stables Inc. and Hebert Horses Inc. Royal Captain Group of Hamilton, Ont. is now the listed owner, with Jones handling the conditioning.
Friday's full qualifying session is available below.
For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).
(Standardbred Canada)