The Friday (April 28) session of qualifiers at Woodbine Mohawk Park featured some established stakes stars from past seasons with a mix of sophomores looking to make their mark in stakes action in the months to come.
Three-year-old pacing filly Illusion Seelster did her best to disappear from her rivals, sprinting away to a 23-length victory in her first charted mile of the year. Driver Sylvain Filion settled the daughter of State Treasurer - I C Maggie May into third early, and then gave the pacer to cue. She responded explosively, opening up a 10-length lead at the :57.4 half. After a third quarter in 1:25 clear by 16 lengths, Illusion Seelster paced home in :27.3 to trip the timer in a life's best 1:52.3.
Gabby Sasso trains Illusion Seelster, a winner of just one start as a rookie with $45,395 in the bank for owners Jeff Courchesne of Cambridge and Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, Ont.
The fastest mile of the morning came courtesy Whichwaytothebeach. Now five, the sophomore stakes winner was making his first appearance since a lame scratch from a conditioned event in September. He was all systems go for driver James MacDonald on Friday morning, going wire-to-wire to win in 1:50.3 some sevent lengths better than Bettorbeflyin (Doug McNair).
Desiree Jones conditions Whichwaytothebeach (Somebeachsomewhere - Swinging Beauty) for owner Gino Toscani of Mount Hope, Ont. The 13-time winner boasts $680,000 in earnings and a mark of 1:49.2, which he took in his 2021 Somebeachsomewhere division.
Warrawee Xenia clocked the fastest time of the morning session on the trotting side, stalking temposetter Handsome Sebastian (Doug Hie) through the back half of the mile before engaging afterburners in the stretch. A powerful and confident :26.4 closer completed the 1:55.3 mile, nearly four lengths the best.
Bob McClure handled Warrawee Xenia (Walner - Endless Flirt) during her qualifying effort for trainer Shawn Steacy and owners Mark Steacy, David McDonald, Dale Larson and Diane Bertrand. A 2022 O'Brien Award finalist for her sophomore campaign, Warrawee Xenia sports 10 wins and a $231,478 bankroll.
The fractious but undefeated Baroness Hill behaved royally during her qualifying outing to trot to a new lifetime best. The $260,000 yearling got away sharply and settled into third for driver Doug McNair through fractions of :29 and :58.3, then made gains around the final turn after an outer-flow surge. A :27.2 final panel allowed the filly to pull away to a two-length score in 1:56.2.
Baroness Hill (Kadabra - Secret Passion) won two starts as a 2022 rookie for owner Tom Hill of Hamilton, Ont. and trainer Chantal Mitchell. This qualifier was her fourth attempt of the season afetr making breaks in her first three April appearances.
The full video stream from Friday's session is available below.
For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers).