Qualifiers at Mohawk today saw action from several
Breeders Crown contestants whose events have gone straight to finals on Sat.,
Oct. 27. Mare Pace contender Ginger and Fred (race 10, post 8) won in 1:51.3
with a 26.2 last quarter in rein to Scott Zeron.
Defending
sophomore Crown champ Cedar Dove is one of three mares to take a bye in the
US$250,000 Mare Trot along with last year’s Mare Trot champ Frenchfrysnvinegar
and Pembroke Heat Wave Cedar Dove qualified
for Mike Vanderkemp in 1:56.2.
The
US$600,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Pace drew 13 necessitating a
single elimination of 10 fillies for Fri. Oct. 19, with three fillies taking
byes.
UF
Dragon’s Queen and Parlee Beach finished one-two in a Mohawk morning test
qualifier timed in 1:53.3.
With
just six in the US $600,000 Crown Trot, trainer Jeff Gillis opted to school
Mister Herbie behind the gate rather than qualify.
“He
went good, said Gillis. “We went 1:53 and change or 54. He was comfortable and
I was happy with it. I will probably train him a little three days out, but
that’s it.”
The
eight-year-old gelding Arch Madness is making his fifth start in Crown
competition. He won the 2007 sophomore Crown Trot over Donato Hanover, was
runner up to Corleone Kosmos in 2008 and Lucky Jim in 2009 and finished fifth
in the Crown Trot at Woodbine last year. He is the only entrant who will race
prior to the final, in an open event at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Sat.,
Oct. 20.
