Teague qualifies top colts

Trainer George Teague Jr. qualified his two sophomore pacing big guns Western Ace and Total Truth Wednesday morning at Rosecroft and told harnessracing.com shortly afterward he was pleased with the outcomes. Although Woodrow Wilson winner Western Ace had to settle for second after what Teague called an “adventurous” trip, Total Truth came up a winner.

Teague parlayed a two-hole trip with Total Truth to post a 1:56.2 victory. “Total Truth qualified good; I was just trying to go easy,” said Teague, who was in the sulky behind both 3-year-old colts. “I was quite pleased with him.”

As for Western Ace, Teague said he got away sixth in the seven-horse field and then could only rally his charge to a distant runner-up finish behind 6-year-old pacer Bay Sign. Bay Sign crossed the wire in 1:55.3 while Western Ace, 11 ¾ lengths behind, was timed in 1:58.

“I wanted to take it easy with him the first time too, but I didn’t plan on getting that far back,” said Teague. “The next thing I knew I was third-over and then I hooked wheels with another horse around the last turn. It was adventurous, that’s for sure.”

Teague said he plans on qualifying both colts once or twice more before embarking on the stakes circuit. Total Truth is likely headed to the Burlington while Western Ace will point to the New Jersey Classic. He said both colts will likely be entered in the North America Cup at Woodbine in mid June.

Teague also drove the 3-year-old filly pacer Firiel Hanover, who he owns in partnership with his sister, Brenda, to a 1:57.4 victory. The daughter of Camluck-First Days Lite is a full sister to the Ontario Sire Stakes-winning filly Firstariseetonite. Finishing second in the qualifier behind Firiel Hanover by 1 ¾ lengths was Valkyrie Hanover, who was the upset winner in last fall’s Ontario Sire Stakes Super Gold Final for 2-year-old filly pacers.

Firiel Hanover made just three starts last year at two before suffering minor injuries when she fell, according to Teague. “She fell down…and skinned her shoulders,” he said, adding that the Ontario-bred filly’s first start might come in a maiden event at Harrington.

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