As the Grand Circuit continues at Mohawk Racetrack, rookie trotters roll into town on Thursday and Friday for eliminations of the Peaceful Way and William Wellwood Memorial. Among the contenders is the fastest two-year-old trotter of 2014.
Filly Mission Brief has been on the track for six starts and two qualifiers. Judging by her chartlines, when she doesn't break stride early she is unstoppable. The daughter of Muscle Hill - Southwind Serena punished her foes during her early starts in New Jersey, reeling off four wins over a month-long span from the start of July to the start of August. That August start was a dazzling 1:52.2 effort in the Merrie Annabelle Final at The Meadowlands, etching her name in harness racing's record books as the co-fastest freshman filly on a mile track.
On Thursday night, the Ron Burke trainee will contest one of two $30,000 Peaceful Way eliminations. With regular pilot Yannick Gingras down to drive, Mission Brief has drawn Post 6 in the second elimination for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA, Our Horse Cents Stables of Clifton Park, N.Y., J And T Silva Stables LLC of Long Beach, N.Y., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA.
Among the fillies to test Mission Brief is Stubborn Belle, who last Thursday set a news stakes record in the Champlain with a sharp gate-to-wire 1:54.2 effort at Mohawk for driver Paul MacDonell and trainer John Bax. Al Libfeld of Pickering and Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough, Ont. own the daughter of Taurus Dream - Musetta Hanover, and she will line up to Mission Brief's inside from Post 3.
The first division also features a Champlain winner from the week prior in the consistent Jolene Jolene. The daughter of Muscle Hill-Celebrity Speedie has yet to miss the toteboard in five tries (2-2-1) with her two runner-up finishes coming to Mission Brief. Jonas Czernyson trains Jolene Jolene for Bill Donovan of Fort Lauderdale, Fl., and last week's pilot David Miller will be back in the sulky to guide Jolene Jolene from Post 1.
Morning line oddsmakers gave Jolene Jolene the role of favourite, but had a hard time deciding between her and Spirit To Win. Just as consistent -- three wins and two seconds in five starts -- Spirit To Win made easy work of her rivals in the Pure Ivory before stepping up to the Grand Circuit types last week. She finished second to Stubborn Belle and trotted her individual mile in 1:54.4, faster than the other two Champlain winners.
Dustin Jones trains Spirit To Win (Cantab Hall - Celebrity Sprit) for Fred Hertrich III of Seaford, Del. and Noblock Racing Stable of Collingwood, Ont. She's drawn Post 6 and will have regular driver Chris Christoforou aboard.
The top five finishers from each eight-horse elim will advance to next Saturday's Peaceful Way Final.
To view the entries for Thursday's card, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
On Friday night, the rookie colts take centre stage for two $30,000 William Wellwood Memorial eliminations. Advancing to next Saturday's final will be 10 of the 13 colts entered.
The first elim is a compact six-horse field with Champlain winner Habitat listed as the even-money morning line selection. The son of Conway Hall - Habits Best was a 1:55 winner last week for trainer Ron Burke, and he (as Burke Racing) co-owns with Our Horse Cents Stables and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Yannick Gingras is listed to drive for Post 5.
Uncle Lasse lines up to Habitat's outside. The full brother to top three-year-old Shake It Cerry (Donato Hanover - Solveig) is following in his sister's footsteps early with solid performances south of the border, notching five on-the-board tallies (2-2-1) from five starts. His most recent effort was a 1:56.4 win over a sloppy Mohegan Sun Pocono oval for driver Ron Pierce, trainer Jimmy Takter and owner Solveigs Racing Partners of East Windsor, N.J.
Also winning at Pocono over an off surface was Cruzado Dela Noche, the morning line choice in the second elimination. With a 1:55.4 speed badge, the son of Muscle Massive - Alidade is the fastest winner of the seven rookies competing in this split. Owned by Sweden's Courant AB, Cruzado Dela Noche has Post 4 for trainer Nancy Johansson and listed driver David Miller.
Of the seven horses in this race, Cruzado Dela Noche is the only one making his first start over Mohawk. The rest of the field raced in last week's Champlain divisions.
To view the entries for Friday night's card, click the following link: Friday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.