Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner Martinis Place proved to be the fastest two-year-old during the Tuesday (August 6) qualifying session at Woodbine Mohawk Park, which saw a total of seven races head behind the starter.
The Scott McEneny-trained Martinis Place kicked off the session in Race 1 and was second down to the :29.2 quarter pole over a ‘good’ track that was given a two-second variant.
Pilot Sylvain Filion had the daughter of Betterthancheddar on the move in the second panel, as the pair was overland when they tripped the half-mile marker in :58.4.
Martinis Place navigated the turn and was first to the three-quarters pole, which flashed to life in 1:27.4.
Martinis Place had opened up a two and three-quarter-length lead by the head of the stretch, and ultimately held on for a half-length victory in 1:56.1.
Milton, Ontario’s Brad Grant recently purchased Martinis Place, who was a $24,000 yearling purchase out of the 2018 London Selected sale.
A torrential downpour pounded the field before and during much of Race 2, which saw another two-year-old McEneny trainee, Wholesome Hanover, persevere and record a win in 2:05.4 for driver Sylvain Filion. The gelded son of Andover Hall rebounded after a break behind the gate to catch the field and post a two-length victory. McEneny, of Puslinch, Ont., co-owns Wholesome Hanover along with Teresa Davidson, of Milton, Ont.
The last of the morning’s two-year-old qualifiers was won by the Bob McIntosh-trained Miss L A, who is a full sister to the accomplished, two-time O'Brien Award winner L A Delight (p,3,1:49.1f [$1,782,999]). The daughter of Bettors Delight raced second through the opening quarter (:29.3) and half (:59) before moving to the lead prior to the three-quarters pole (1:29). Driver Trevor Henry had things well in hand through the stretch, as he guided Miss L A home to a three and a half-length win in 1:57.4. Miss L A is now perfect after two qualifying efforts for owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. (of Windsor, Ont.), Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. (Leamington, Ont.), Deo Volente Farms LLC (Flemington, NJ) and Cool Cat Racing Inc. (Flemington, NJ).
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifying).