Coligny Hanover used a stout :27.3 sprint home to eclipse stablemate Magical Arthur in 1:56.4 and take top honours in Friday morning's (July 9) 11-race qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Anthony Beaton trainee Coligny Hanover demonstrated improved turn of foot in the morning's fifth race after being switched off the pegs out of midfield by James MacDonald as Magical Arthur reached three-quarters in 1:28. Upon straightening out for home, the son of Sunshine Beach and Carolina Angel found another gear, accelerating to mow down his stablemate by 1-1/2 lengths. Beaton and co-owner David Mercer purchased Coligny Hanover for $12,000 at last November's Harrisburg-at-Timonium yearling sale.
MacDonald also drove the fastest rookie filly of each gait — Suellen Hanover and Solo TT — and teamed up with trainer Shawn Steacy on both occasions.
Suellen Hanover, a $30,000 acquisition for Landmark 14, Hudson Standardbred Stable and David McDonald, brushed to the lead on the backstretch, rated soft middle fractions of 1:00.3 and 1:30.3, and then held off a late charge from pocket rival Classic Venus to win by a neck in 1:59.2. The daughter of Bettors Delight and Scarlets Western shaved two seconds off her first qualifier, in which she rallied from off the pace to finish second.
Solo TT, a Hudson Standardbred Stable and Bridle Path Stables homebred, stalked from fourth and pushed forward off the home turn for a 2:01.2 win — the fastest of the morning by a trotting filly — over Lune Duharas. The daughter of Muscle Mass and Dream For Lindy knocked four seconds off her first qualifying time, and kicked home this day in :29.1 to reach by a neck amid a failing pace.
Musculus Massa's 2:01 mile was the fastest among rookie male trotters. After suffering an interference break in his pari-mutuel debut on July 2, the son of Muscle Mass and Quintessa returned to the qualifiers, and he delivered a solid two-move mile with a :29.2 last quarter extending his winning margin over Ima Standup Guy to 2-1/4 lengths. Trevor Henry drove for trainer Ted MacDonnell and the partnership of Noblock Racing Stable, T M Racing and Leonard Gamble.
The broadcast of Friday morning's qualifying session can be viewed in its entirety below.
To view Friday morning's complete results, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifier).