Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted a nine-race qualifying session on Tuesday morning (August 31) with a number of stakes eligibles in action.
Trained by Clark Beelby, Armbro Flight Stakes eligible Royalty Deal opened the qualifying session with a 5-3/4-length victory in 1:54.3 over the Maple Leaf Trot nominated Nylander and Forbidden Trade. Louis-Philippe Roy guided Coyote Wynd Farms' four-year-old Royalty For Life-Cha Cha Glide mare out to a seven-length lead through fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before cruising home in :28.4. The Ontario Sires Stakes graduate has won two of her eight starts this year, lifting her career win count to six with nearly $185,000 in purse earnings.
Also owned by Coyote Wynd Farms and trained by Beelby, sophomore pacer Rau Ru turned in a 1:54.1 qualifying win, widening his lead to 5-1/4 lengths during a :28.2 final frame with Paul MacDonell in the sulky. The Bettors Delight-Band Of Angels gelding, who has yet to race this year, concluded his four-for-eight freshman campaign with a sweep of the Harvest Series.
Bestseller Hanover, who remains eligible to the Milton Stakes later this month, led wire-to-wire for a Tuesday morning qualifying victory in 1:53.3 for trainer Nick Gallucci and Millar Farms. The five-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Bittorsweet Terror posted fractions of :29.1, :57.3 and 1:26.1. Leading by seven lengths at the top the stretch, she closed in :27.2 with Enavant sprinting from the back of the four-pack to close within 4-1/2 lengths. Reagan Blue Chip finished well back in third. Bestseller Hanover has won two of her 11 starts this season. The 2019 Lismore champion is a career winner of 11 races and more than $300,000.
O'Brien Award winner On A Streak, driven by Bob McClure, earned his second consecutive qualifying win since his return to Canada. The Cantab Hall-Habits Best colt, last year's William Wellwood and Breeders Crown champion, led through fractions of :29.3, :59 and 1:28.1 en route to a 1:56.1 triumph. Stablemate Macho Martini followed 1-3/4 lengths behind in second for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination. Wheeling In Cash finished back in third.
Chikaboom was the fastest two-year-old of the session, pacing to victory in 1:57 for trainer Julie Walker. With Jean Bernard Renaud in the bike, the Betterthancheddar-Quest Hanover gelding followed a pair of rookies who traded turns on the lead through splits of :29.1, :59 and 1:28.3 before kicking home in :27.4 for the 4-1/2 length score. D J Seelster finished second with Good My Chrome well back in third. Owned and bred by Harold Duguay, Chikaboom is three-for-four to start his career.
Trained and driven by Mario Baillargeon, Renegade Gypsy topped the two-year-old trotters with his second straight winning effort in qualifying action. He crossed to command from post five by the first turn and carved out panels of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.1 before holding off the closing Merchandiser filly Grace by a half-length in 1:58.3, with Rose Run Xcaliber third. Owned by Thestable Renegade Gypsy, the Archangel-Sea Gypsy gelding is two-for-four with a victory in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots at Kawartha Dows earlier this month.
To view Tuesday's complete qualifying results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results (Qualifiers) - Woodbine Mohawk Park.