Freshmen pacing fillies were on display at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening, and the rookies performed in a professional manner despite horrible track and weather conditions.
Canary Island, from the first crop of Somebeachsomewhere, won in her pari-mutuel debut for trainer/driver Rick Zeron. The $42,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale rallied to stop the teletimer in 1:59.4 over a track rated ‘sloppy’ with a two-second allowance for time. Runner-up Rachel Welch (Real Desire-Ideal Gal) came up a nose short, with Glinda Good Witch (Mach Three-Timeless Classic) taking home third prize.
Out of the Goalie Jeff mare Duck Duck Goose, Canary Island is owned by Rick Zeron Stables, Joe Arcaro and Hutt Racing Stable. The pacer is a half-sister to the likes of Elusive Pray (1:51.2 - $803,131) Aba Daba Doo (1:49.1 - $541,037) and Duneside Perch (1:50.2 - $160,325).
Raise Your Glass, a homebred daughter of Santanna Blue Chip-Gamblers Daughter, survived a first-over trip in her debut for the tandem of driver Scott Zeron and trainer Anthony Monica who co-owns the filly with Mike Timpano.
With a Gaitway Farms qualifier under her belt, the rookie came first up against Modern Image (Modern Art-Unique X Ample) and eventually pulled away to defeat that foe by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:59.1. Mach Star (Mach Three-Beach Jenny) rounded out the top three finishers.
Shortly after the post parading for that race two fillies collided on the track, and as a result Mary Legatto had to be scratched from her debut and driver Jack Moiseyev booked off his remaining drives.
Mary Legatto and driver Jack Moiseyev were run into by Good Luck Kathy and driver Mario Baillargeon prior to the race, and as a result Mary Legatto dumped Moiseyev out of the bike before running through the infield. She was apprehended in front of the grandstand. Fortunately, she was not injured in the mishap. Driver Jack Moiseyev was tended to by paramedics. A sore back prompted Moiseyev to book off his two remaining drives.
Trot Insider will post an update on Moiseyev’s condition when more details become available.