Im On Cloud Nine, the three-year-old Angus Hall filly that captured the $159,218 SBOA Filly Trot in late May, qualified this morning (Monday, July 9) at Mohawk Racetrack after having made breaks in her two previous stakes engagements.
The career winner of seven races and $196,549 in purses had followed up her SBOA triumph by making breaks in both her June 8 elimination for Mohawk's Elegantimage Stakes and her June 30 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold elim at Georgian Downs.
Pilot Jack Moiseyev was back up behind the bay Monday morning for trainer Kevin O'Reilly. The duo lined up in Post 2 for Race 4, and after the wings folded, Im On Cloud Nine was first to the top heading into the first turn. They were up more than three lengths at the :29.2 opening quarter pole, and enjoyed a :30.2 second panel before clicking off the opening half in :59.4.
The third panel proved to be another leisurely one for Moiseyev and his miss, as they cruised past the three-quarters pole in 1:29.1. Im On Cloud Nine was forced to dig in just a bit to hold off a hard-closing Eagle Canada (driven by Doug McNair), who closed with determination from the backfield. Im On Cloud Nine's final margin of victory proved to be a head over Eagle Canada in 1:58.
Prior to her SBOA victory, Im On Cloud Nine also captured series victories in the Celias Counsel and Ontario Prep Series.
Mohawk's 12-race Monday qualifying session featured no less than eight dashes for two-year-olds.