Crown contenders in qualifiers at Mohawk

Qualifiers at Mohawk Friday saw action from several Breeders Crown contestants whose events have gone straight to finals on Sat., Oct. 27.

 

Defending sophomore Crown champ Cedar Dove is one of three mares to take a bye in the $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.

 

Mare Pace contender Ginger and Fred won in 1:51.3 with a :26.2 last quarter in rein to Scott Zeron.

 

The $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-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 $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 8-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. (Breeders Crown)