Mohawk Racetrack hosted a compact, seven-race qualifying session on Tuesday morning (Sept. 29). Overnight rains in the area led to a track that was rated 'good' with a two-second variant, but that didn't stop the horses from putting their best hooves forward.
Two-time Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner Fox Valley Liza took the chance to put in some work during the morning session. The Muscle Mass filly was coming off of a break in stride during her last OSS Gold, which took place on September 21 at the Campbellville oval. Sylvain Filion was in the bike behind the Ben Baillargeon trainee, and the duo fired out from Post 2 in Race 4. They spurned the pocket early and headed to the lead into the first turn. They were overland when the quarter pole flashed to life in :30.4 and then settled onto the point in the second panel. Fox Valley Liza carved the middle fractions (1:00.3, 1:30) before expanding her already-sizable lead in the final quarter. She trotted home with a 30-second final quarter and won by 12 and one quarter lengths in 2:00. Fox Valley Liza is owned by Anthony Lombardi, the Henshaut Stable, and George Golemes.
Please note that Fox Valley Liza's race starts at approximately the 15:45 mark
Four-year-old Trixton mare Steuben Hanover took to the track for Race 7 and lined up in the pole position for driver Bob McClure and trainer Luc Blais. After having taken a three-hole trip through the opening quarter (:30.2) and half (1:00.4), the Determination-owned horse raced second-over past the three quarters pole (1:30.3) and accelerated from there. The end result was a four and a half-length win in 1:59.1 off of a :28.1 final quarter. Steuben Hanover has hit in the board in nine of her 16 starts this season and has notched four victories. In mid-February, Steuben Hanover won the $34,000 final of the Pepsi Trotting Series at Mohawk.
A two-year-old pacing colt made his career charted debut during the session, as the Martin Lachance-trained and driven Lucky Benji got the job done at first asking. The $75,000 yearling purchase went to the top from Post 6 in Race 5, cut the fractions (:30.2, 1:002, 1:30.1), and paced home with a 29-second final panel. The win time was 1:59.1 and the margin of victory was one and one-half lengths. Lucky Benji is owned by the Lachance Racing Stable, Dragon Racing Inc. and Dan Mogridge.
To view the harness racing results from the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).