Sportswriter romps in 1:51.4 qualifier

After posting qualifying victories in 1:56 and 1:54.3, the 2009 Dan Patch and O'Brien award-winning Sportswriter turned it up a notch in a third qualifier Thursday morning at Mohawk, romping to a 15-length victory in 1:51.4. Mark MacDonald was in the sulky behind the Casie Coleman-trained 3-year-old son of Artsplace as he led gate to wire.

 

Leaving from post six, Sportswriter was on top by five lengths at the opening :28 quarter, stretching the margin to 10 lengths by the :56 half. He opened up even more daylight in a :27.3 third quarter as the gap grew to 15 lengths, and with a final quarter of :28.1 kept the final margin at 15 lengths.

 

To see video and reaction to Sportswriter's qualifier, click here.

 

Other big-name horses qualifying Thursday at Mohawk included the 6-year-old gelding trotter Before He Cheats, who scored a 5 1/2-length, 1:55.4 victory for driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Kevin O'Reilly. The son of Valley Victory, who has earned nearly $600,000 for owner Sam Bowie, has not made a pari-mutuel start since last July.

 

Also winning a qualifier Thursday were Damsel Pacing Series winner Cats Meow, who won in 1:54.1 for driver Bill O'Donnell and trainer Dr. John Hayes, and Dali, who won the Spring Pacing Championship at Woodbine. The millionaire pacer was driven by Lou Ouellette for trainer Rene Allard to the 1:51.4 victory.