Filly champs qualify

Reigning divisional champs My Little Dragon and Passionate Glide won their respective qualifiers Thursday morning at the Meadowlands, while Bob Heyden, the second highest-priced yearling trotter sold at auction in 2004 at a price of $290,000, also won a qualifier in his first appearance of 2006.

My Little Dragon, who won a qualifier May 25 at the Big M in 1:54.3, lowered that time to 1:53.4 with a two-length decision for driver Brian Sears and trainer Brendan Johnson. The 2005 Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year by Dragon Again kicked home in :26.4 to seal the victory.

Passionate Glide, the 2005 Two-Year-Old Filly Trotter of the Year, scored a 3 ¼-length decision in 1:56.2 for trainer-driver Jimmy Takter. On May 25, the daughter of Yankee Glide notched a 1:58 qualifying win in her season debut. Finishing second was 2005 Merrie Annabelle winner Miss Wisconsin for driver Mike Lachance and trainer Ron Gurfein.

Bob Heyden, who made just two qualifying appearances last year at two, is now being trained by Trond Smedshammer, who directed the full brother to Ken Warkentin to a 1:58 victory. Smedshammer was also in the bike behind Breeders Crown, Kentucky Futurity and Yonkers Trot winner Strong Yankee as the 4-year-old trotter won a qualifier in 1:55.1.

Also winning a qualifier was the New York Sire Stakes-winner Algiers Hall, who defeated world champ Here Comes Herbie by a neck in 1:54.4 for trainer-driver John Stark Jr. Global Glide finished third.

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