A total of six races faced the starter Tuesday morning (Sept. 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as the Campbellville, Ont. oval conducted its weekly qualifying session.
In Race 1, two-year-old trotting filly Wine Rack Hanover (Kadabra—Winbak Maya) turned a pocket ride through the fractions (:28.2, :57.2, 1:27) into a head victory in 1:56.1 for trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman and driver Sylvain Filion. The bay filly, who sold for $45,000 in a yearling sale last fall, is owned by Pinske Stables (of Plato, MN) and Bridgette Jablonsky (Hanover, PA).
Juvenile action continued in Race 2, as the Bob McIntosh-trained and Trevor Henry-driven Perfect Storm (Somebeachsomewhere—Strike An Attitude) assumed control after the :29 quarter, cut the rest of the fractions (:58.2, 1:28.2), and held on for a neck win in 1:57.3. The Tuesday win was the third qualifying performance for Perfect Storm, who is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. (Windsor, Ont.), Dave Boyle (Bowmanville, Ont.) and Mardon Stables (Loretto, Ont.).
In what was his first charted mile since July 6, five-year-old American Ideal gelding Pointomygranson paced to a gate-to-wire win in 1:53.2 in Race 3 for trainer Chantal Mitchell and pilot Bob McClure. He was ahead by 10 and a half lengths at the three-quarters pole before cruising home to win by a length and a half. The bay is owned by Gold Standard Equine LLC of Greenacres, Florida.
Race 4 saw the Clark Beelby-trained and Chris Christoforou-driven While Your Up fire off the turn and trot to a two and a half-length victory in 1:58.4 off of a :27.4 final panel. The three-year-old Royalty For Life gelding is owned by the Coyote Wynd Farms of Vancouver, BC.
Race 5 proved to be a three-horse contest, and after having stalked his two foes throughout the mile, the Dustin Jones-trained and Chris Christoforou-driven Rousseau turned on the jets and got up to post a one and a half-length victory in 1:54. The three-year-old Sportswriter colt hasn’t competed in a pari-mutuel race since last fall. His Tuesday effort was his second qualifying mile of the year, and was also his second in as many weeks. Rousseau is owned by Dustin Jones Stables Inc. of Waterdown, Ont.
The last of the morning’s qualifying races (Race 6) was won by the five-year-old Kadabra mare Royal Witch. The Ben Baillargeon trainee looped to the point after the :29.4 quarter pole and cut the rest of the fractions in :58.3 and 1:26.4. Trevor Henry led the lass through the lane to a 1:54.4 win. The margin of victory was three quarters of one length. Royal Witch, who has won 15 races and earned $293,943 over the course of her career, is owned by Thomas Rankin and Elizabeth Rankin of St Catharines, Ont.
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).