Having only made one pari-mutuel start, it is understandable that the name Sportswriter may not be well known as of yet in the standardbred industry
. If this morning's performance at Mohawk Racetrack is any indication, all eyes may be on the Casie Coleman-trained colt as the two-year-old stakes season gets into gear.
Strutting its stuff during the second race in Mohawk Racetrack's six-dash qualifying session, Sportswriter went straight to the top from Post 8 and was not headed.
Over a track rated fast but one second slow, driver Mark MacDonald put the Artsplace colt on the lead and the duo went on to cut the fractions in :30, :59.1 and 1:26.4. Turning it on at the end of the mile, the $50,000 yearling purchase cruised to a whopping 22 and a half-length victory off a :26.4 final quarter. The win was clocked in 1:53.3.
"He was awesome and just won easily," Coleman told Trot Insider. The two-time O'Brien Award winning trainer did say, though, that the colt did show some immature mannerisms this morning, which led to an equipment change.
"I added a headpole to him after he ran out during the post parade," she said, "but it was more of a greenness issue, not a soundness thing." Coleman told Trot Insider that Sportswriter may not don the headpole going forward, as he did not seem to react well to it this morning.
Coleman said that there is a chance the colt may be entered to a two-year-old race some time next week, but that she is still unsure as of yet. The conditioner did say that she is pointing Sportswriter to the Nassagaweya Stakes at Mohawk, which are scheduled for Saturday, August 22. The following Saturday (August 29) will see the Campbellville oval host eliminations for the $1 million Metro Pace, and Coleman looks to be right in the mix with the flashy colt.
"It's been the plan all along," Coleman said regarding the Nassagaweya and Metro route.
Prior to Sportswriter's big mile, two-year-old Daguet Rapide colt Adrion Dream went gate to wire for trainer Annette Lorentzon and driver Steve Condren in Race 1, recording a quarter-length margin of victory in 2:04.3.
Two-year-old Oaklea Julian filly Kassie Oaks proved the best in Race 3, as driver Rick Zeron steered the Bill Cass-trained chestnut to a three-quarters of one length victory in 2:03.1.
Race 4 saw another impressive freshman performance, as the Bob McIntosh-trained and Steve Condren-driven Rock Me Please wired the field from Post 7, tossing up a large 14 and a half-length margin of victory in 1:55.4. The Rocknroll Hanover colt is out of the millionaire Camluck mare Please Me Please.
Five-year-old Mach Three gelding Three Cents captured Race 5 for driver Rick Zeron and trainer Frank Baker, Jr. The career winner of 10 races and over $113,000 triumphed by one length in 1:55.2.
Three-year-old Amigo Hall colt Breewood Gringo was victorious in Race 6, as the Steve Loughran-trained and Jody Jamieson-driven bay converted a pocket trip and posted a quarter-length victory in 1:56.
To view the harness racing results from Mohawk's Monday morning qualifying session, click here.