On Tuesday morning (Aug. 20), Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to a nine-dash qualifying session, which featured a trio of two-year-old races and also saw juveniles sprinkled throughout two other tilts.
The first of the two-year-old dashes faced the gate for Race 1, and it was the John Bax-trained and Matt Bax-driven colt Beads (Archangel—Nepentha) that trotted to a gate-to-wire win (:29.1, :58.4, 1:28.4) and nailed the wire in 1:59.1. The margin of victory was six lengths for owner Renee Spahr (of East Prospect, PA).
Race 2 saw freshman No Lou Zing (Sweet Lou—Terroronthebeach), who was a $145,000 yearling purchase in Harrisburg last fall, come from off the pace to win in 1:57.1 for trainer Nancy Johansson and driver Josert Fonseca. The bay colt had started from Post 5 and sat fourth through the opening quarter (:30) and half (:59.4). Lou Zing then came first up on the turn before the 1:29.2 third call. He wrapped up his mile with a :27.4 closing quarter and got up for a one and three-quarter-length win. Lou Zing is owned by the 3 Brothers Stables (New York, NY), Rojan Stables (Wilmington, DE) and Caviart Farms (Vienna, VA).
Another six-figure yearling purchase recorded a victory during the session, as freshman Durhamville (Cantab Hall—Define Royalty) won Race 5 with a 1:58.1, wire-to-wire performance from Post 4. The Domenico Cecere trainee was in rein to Patrizio Ancora and the duo cut the fractions in :28.1, :58.4 and 1:28.2. Durhamville trotted home with a :29.4 final panel and posted a whopping 14-length margin of victory. Lindy Farms Of Conn (Enfield, CT) and Robert Rudolph (Vineland, NJ) share ownership of the bay colt that was a $110,000 buy at the 2018 Lexington Selected sale.
The last of the morning’s juvenile performers took to the track for Race 6, and it was the Harry Poulton-trained and Anthony MacDonald-driven Beach Boutique (Somebeachsomewhere—Dashboard Dancer) that nailed the wire first. The bay filly recorded a wire-to-wire win from Post 3. She cut the speed in :30, :59.2 and 1:28.2 before cruising home in :29.3. The margin of victory was one and three-quarter lengths for Beach Boutique, who is owned by Thestable Beach Boutique (Guelph, Ont.).
To view the harness racing results for the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifying).