A compact, four-race qualifying session took place this morning at Mohawk Racetrack, with Stick Man Moe, Little Amos, J M Ironside and Ziegler Hanover each recording victories.
With Sylvain Filion in the race bike for trainer Richard Moreau in Race 1, Stick Man Moe took a trip in the garden spot through the first two splits (:29, :58.3) before being tipped out for an advance. Alongside the tempo-setting Uncle Petrika N (driven by Rick Zeron) at the 1:28.3 three-quarters pole, the son of Pine Chip trotted home with a :29.1 final panel to record the win in 1:57.4.
Stick Man Moe, winner of 13 races and $141,180 in his career, has a seasonal slate which reads 6-7-1 from 30 starts, good for over $82,000 in purses.
Rene Bourassa pupil Little Amos took a similar ride in Race 2, as pilot Luc Ouellette had the seven-year-old Village Connection gelding second through fractions cut in :29, :58.3 and 1:28.3. The bay fired off that cover in the lane and scooted home to a five and three quarter-length victory in 1:57.4.
Little Amos continues to grind towards millionaire status, as the career winner of 39 races currently has $723,919 banked, $152,560 of which has been earned this year.
Race 3 saw J M Ironside lead from start to finish and best a tiny three-horse field in 2:00.4. The three-year-old Angus Hall gelding cut the fractions in :29.3, :59.2 and 1:30.3 and just hung on for a neck win at the wire. Luc Ouellette drove the gelding for trainer Rick Williams. J M Ironside has made four pari-mutuel starts in his career and is still looking to break his maiden.
After sitting mid-pack through the first three quarters of Race 4, Ben Baillargeon pupil Ziegler Hanover trotted home for a two and a half-length victory in 2:03. Mario Baillargeon steered the three-year-old Andover Hall colt who has notched one win in 12 career starts.
To view the charted lines from the Mohawk qualifiers, click here