Eleven qualifiers on Tuesday (August 10) morning at Woodbine Mohawk Park featured a mix of dashes for two-year-olds and older performers.
Norm Dunstan's homebred two-year-old gelding Lexus Range opened the session with a 1:58.2 qualifying win, fastest two-year-old trotting mile of the day, for trainer/driver Paul MacDonell.
The Archangel-Lexus Helio gelding, who debuted with a pair of fourth-place finishes in Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action, went from fourth to first after a :29.3 first quarter and led through a half in 1:00.2. He then rebuffed a challenge from Luca Hanover past three-quarters in 1:29.4 to win by three lengths.
The Bob McIntosh-trained filly Let Me Be Me turned in the fastest two-year-old pacing mile of the session in 1:55.4 with Trevor Henry at the lines.
Leaving from post six, the two-time career winner worked her way to the lead by the 30-second opening quarter and carved out middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:27.2 before closing out the 2-1/2 length tally with a :28.2 final frame. Frantasy Hanover moved into the pocket spot early on and followed her the rest of the way.
The homebred Thinking Out Loud-Noshameinmygame filly, who has earned $18,750 through six starts which includes a 1:54.4 OSS Grassroots triumph on July 20 at Mohawk, is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables and Al Mcintosh Holdings Inc.
Among the older qualifying set was Grand Circuit stakes-placed Control Heaven, who won his qualifier by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1 with Jonathan Drury in the bike for trainer Chantal Mitchell. After leading through a :29.2 opening panel, the sophomore pacing gelding gave way to The Legend Hanover through middle splits of :58.3 and 1:26.4 before sprinting by in :26.1.
The Control The Moment-Somewhereinheaven gelding, a runner-up in last year's Champlain Stakes who is 1-2-3 from 12 starts with $61,743 earned, is owned by Doug Millard, Mitchell Di Cenzo and Gold Standard Equine LLC.
Australian import Speedy Dominic A, a seven-year-old son of American Ideal, scored in 1:54 for his first charted line on North American soil for trainer Carmen Auciello. Mike Tanev owns the 14-time winner, who led by as much as seven lengths as he clocked panels of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:26 before cruising home to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Quebec champion Wildriverbumblebee, who has not raced in two years.
The replay of Tuesday's qualifying session is available below.
To view Tuesday's complete qualifying results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results (Qualifying) - Mohawk Park.