Friday's session of baby races at Woodbine Mohawk Park featured five sets of freshmen on a pleasant morning with temperatures around the 20°C mark.
Princesspartypants made an impressive debut for trainer-driver Roger Mayotte in the morning's first qualifier, pulling away to an open length win in her first appearance to earn a mark of 2:02.3. Letstaketothesky (Ryan Holliday) and Heat Wave Hanover finished next best.
A $70,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase, Princesspartypants (Muscle Mass - No Magic To It) is owned by Just In Time Stable of Mississauga, R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington Big Als Stables Inc. of Woodbridge, Ont.
After a few fractious outings Nice Kitty Hanover played nice for trainer-driver Eric Adams, sitting patiently in the pocket behind Anthem Seelster (Paul MacDonell) before powering past in the stretch to get up in the final strides for the 1:58.2 score. Twin B Dream Girl (Travis Henry) held third.
Millar Farms of Stouffville, Ont. owns Nice Kitty Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere - Nine Lives Hanover) who was a $70,000 Harrisburg yearling.
The fourth time was the charm for trotter Gamblin Road, who was content to not chase a strong-willed Sabatino (Mark Etsell) through his mile but almost sat his own mile while technically in the pocket. Trevor Henry right-lined Gamblin Road in the stretch and the rookie trotted confidently under the wire first in 2:00.4. Rubbleonthedouble (Ryan Holliday) and Forgive Me Father (Dustin Jones) completed the top three.
A homebred of trainer Bob McIntosh, Gamblin Road (Holiday Road - Give Me A Hand) is co-owned by James Walker of Port Perry and Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont.
Just Plain Needy was just plain impressive in the morning's fourth qualifier. The rookie pacing colt cleared from post six to the front early, allowed post seven starter Lamant (Anthony Haughan) to settle on the front before a backside retake, and then didn't look back en route to a 2:00.1 victory ahead of Rocknrolls Shadow (Travis Henry) and Redneck Paradise (Phil Hudon).
Bred, owned and trained by Jim Ellis of St. Thomas, Ont., Just Plain Needy is a son of Warrawee Needy and the first foal of Rose C.
The fifth and final baby race of the morning featured the most thrilling finish. After a ground-saving trip, Somebeachsometime was angled through foes in the stretch by driver Jody Jamieson to find room and prevail by a neck in a time of 2:00.4. Warrawee Vital (Louis-Philippe Roy) and Ys Big Girl (Bob McClure) completed the top three.
A $65,000 Harrisburg yearling, Somebeachsometime (Somebeachsomewhere - Talk Time) was making her debut for trainer David Menary and owners Menary Racing Inc. of Rockton, Michael Guerriero of Brampton, Kenneth Ewen of Georgetown and Bruce Norris of Caledon East, Ont.
Mohawk's next session of qualifiers is slated for Tuesday, July 16.
To view the results for Friday's qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).