Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted a six-pack of qualifiers on Friday morning (July 19) featuring four groups of promising freshmen and a pair of qualifiers captured by talented sophomore fillies
Rookie pacers hit the track in the third qualifier to kick off the baby race portion of the morning. Somebeachsometime easily won her qualifier for driver Jody Jamieson, pulling away from Watch Me Neigh (Travis Cullen) in the stretch for a 1:55.1 speed badge.
A $65,000 Harrisburg yearling, Somebeachsometime (Somebeachsomewhere - Talk Time) has prevailed in both of her baby race tests 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.
Given the forecast for southwestern Ontario this weekend, it seems only fitting that Heat Wave Hanover would prevail on Friday morning. Driver Matt Bax guided the rookie trotter through her Friday qualifier, leading gate-to-wire to win by a scant nose over a hard-closing Trina (Per Henriksen) in 2:00.1.
Trained by John Bax, Heat Wave Hanover (Sebastian K - Hotentro Hanover) is owned by Glengate Farms, Mississauga and Bax Stable of Campbellville, Ont. The owners paid $35,000 for the filly last fall at Harrisburg.
After an unstressed effort to start her career a week ago, Ms Machinbird looked like a different horse in her second appearance. Driver Randy Waples asked the pacing filly to do all the work on the front end and she responded with a strong wire-to-wire win in 1:58.2 over Lady Limelight (Phil Hudon).
Ken Hofacker trains Ms Machingbird (Mach Three - Career Hanover) for breeder-owners Larry Kelson of Holland Landing, Ont. and Robert Walton of Chapala, Mexico.
Jody Jamieson had the pedal to the metal with Big Blue Ford in the morning's final baby race and rookie trotting colt sped away to win by more than four in his debut, tripping the timer in 2:02.2. Tuned Up (Mark Etsell) was best of the rest.
Trainer Dennis Morrisey of London, Ont. owns Big Blue Ford (Amigo Hall - Incredible Mother), a half-brother to the $245,000 winning Little Red Chev.
A pair of stakes-winning sophomores sharpened on Friday morning before the baby races. Last year's Three Diamonds winner Prescient Beauty (Doug McNair) wore down stubborn pacesetter Osborne Seelster (Jody Jamieson) to win the first qualifier by a neck in 1:54.1.
Gregg McNair trains Prescient Beauty (Art Major Precious - Beauty) for owner-breeder Jim Avritt of Lebanon, Ky.
Ohio Sire Stakes star Only Take Cash made her first appearance since early June, and prevailed despite suffering broken equipment. Driver Trevor Henry sat third with Only Take Cash, tipped the three-year-old around the far turn and allowed her to trot home under minimal urging to win by a head over by temposetter Exemplar (Louis-Philippe Roy) in 1:54.3.
Only Take Cash (Cash Hall - Armbro Affair) is owned by trainer Bob Mcintosh along with Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ont. and Mardon Stables of Loretto,Ont.
To view the results from Friday's qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).