Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted an 11-race qualifying session this morning (Tuesday, July 10) which featured eight races for two-year-olds.
The fastest two-year-old win time of the session was shared by a pair of juveniles – one of which was a $110,000 yearling purchase, while the other was scooped up for $9,500.
The $110,000 yearling, Tyga Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere – Transference) was tough in Race 1 for driver Mario Baillargeon and trainer by Ben Baillargeon). The bay colt cut all the speed (:29.4, :58.1, 1:27.2) and hung Antique Master K out the whole way. Even though he was pressured throughout the proceedings, Tyga Hanover still had enough left to finish off his mile in :29.4 and stop the clock in 1:57.1. Tyga Hanover is the eighth foal out of Transference (by Camluck), who also produced Breeders Crown winner Traceur Hanover. Tyga Hanover is owned by Thomas Rankin and Elizabeth Rankin (of St. Catharines, Ont.) and Glen Rankin (Ottawa, Ont.).
The $9,500 yearling, Springbridge Sassy (Sunshine Beach – Stonebridge Sassy), showed a couple of moves in her qualifying win for Doug McNair. The James Ritchie-trained filly was forwardly placed early and had enough left in the stretch to pop out for a convincing 1:57.1 score. The Tuesday effort was the second qualifying performance of her career. The shrewd London Selected purchase took her mark with the victory. Springbridge Sassy is the fourth foal out of Stonebridge Sassy (by Camluck).
To view the harness racing results for the Tuesday qualifying session at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifying).
Brief recaps of the two-year-old qualifiers appear below.
Even though it was a two-year-old qualifier, there were some fireworks. Tyga Hanover, who was a $110,000 yearling purchase, left off the gate and went wire to wire. Tyga Hanover parked the first-up Antique Master K for the entire middle half and was able to hang on at the wire for a tight finish over closers that came calling late. Tyga Hanover is the eighth foal out of Transference (by Camluck), who also produced Breeders Crown winner Traceur Hanover.
Fast N First was just that in the second qualifier, as the $17,000 Harrisburg purchase went straight to the top, did all the work, and nailed the wire in a mark-taking 1:58.1. Fast N First is the sixth foal out of My Sisters A Champ (by Artsplace).
Race 3 produced the third consecutive gate-to-wire win of the morning session, as Warrawee Ultra had it all her way on the point and hit the wire first. Warrawee Ultra is the third foal out of Warrawee Kate (by Angus Hall). The $35,000 Lexington Selected buy took her mark with the win, in what was her third-ever qualifying performance.
Knight Angel snapped the session's early front-end trend, as the debuting son of Archangel stalked patiently in the backfield before pouncing on the leaders in the lane. Filion called on the brown colt at the right time, and the $26,000 London Selected purchase showed another gear through the lane, as he gobbled up ground on the outside en route to a well-measured win. Knight Angel is the fifth foal out of Dream Taker (by Tagliabue).
Springbridge Sassy showed a couple of moves in her qualifying win, as she got forwardly placed early and had enough left in the stretch to pop out for a convincing score. The Tuesday effort was the second qualifying performance of her career. The $9,500 London Selected buy took her mark with the victory. Springbridge Sassy is the fourth foal out of Stonebridge Sassy (by Camluck).
Sweet Young Thing was just that during Race 6. She left well, went first-up, cleared before the half, and dug in the rest of the way. The filly's determined victory was in a life's-best 1:57.3. Sweet Young Thing, who is a homebred, is the first foal out of Snowbird (by Camluck).
Race 7 featured a win time of 2:04, but there was a ton happening in the dash. The race saw the leaders have issues early in the mile and late in the lane. Scarlett Raider may not have been the flashiest in the mile, but he was definitely the most consistent. When a new leader couldn't stay on the track in deep stretch, Scarlett Raider, a $25,000 yearling buy, was there to pick up the pieces and hit the wire first in 2:04. Scarlett Raider is the fifth foal out of Maple Sugar (by Malabar Maple).
Order Mattie showed moves early and late for trainer/driver Doug Brown in what was a mark-taking effort for the daughter of Angus Hall. The $19,000 London Selected purchase, who was making her third qualifying performance Tuesday, recorded the first win of her career. Order Mattie is the sixth foal out of Order By Matilda (by Tom Ridge).