Magical Acres held a dozen qualifiers for two-year-olds on Wednesday, June 28. Chris Ryder led all trainers with three wins while Linda Toscano and Nifty Norman each had two. The Katie Gangell-trained male pacer Denial posted the morning’s fastest time, 1:55.1, over the training center’s five-eighths-mile oval.
Here is a look at all the winners, in qualifier order:
Pressure Cooker (Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin) won in 1:56.2 for driver Andy McCarthy and Toscano. The homebred pacing filly is owned by Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing. She is a full sister to Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champ Fulton, who earlier this month won a North America Cup elimination and was third in the final.
Denial (Lather Up-Tea Time) won in 1:55.1 with Troy Beyer in the sulky. The gelding is owned by Diamond Creek Racing and was bred by Billy Walters and Joseph McLead. He sold for $73,000 at the Ohio Selected Jug Sale and his family includes millionaire Dali.
Fun With Flags (Always B Miki-Gemmas Beach Girl) won in 1:58.2 for driver Mario Letizia and trainer Tom Cancelliere. She also was a winner on June 21, in 2:01.1. The homebred pacing filly is owned by John Cancelliere. Her third dam, Miss Easy, was inducted into the U.S. Hall of Fame as a racehorse in 2009.
Colt pacer Oer The Ramparts (American Ideal-See To Believe) won in 2:00.4 for driver Dexter Dunn and Ryder. He is owned by Ryder, Mac Nichol, Carl Sackheim and Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing. He was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut and sold for $75,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. His family includes O'Brien Award winners Well Said and Glowing Report.
Strange Fruit (Sweet Lou-Bettor N Better) won in 1:58.3 for McCarthy and Toscano. The homebred filly pacer is owned by Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing. Her dam was a multiple winner on the Grand Circuit.
Colt trotter Caballero (Tactical Landing-SJs Minolta) won in 2:03 for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer. He is owned by Buckstone Land Livestock and was purchased for $57,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He was bred by Belmar Racing And Breeding.
Dog Gone Moni (International Moni-Southside Ebby) won in 1:59.3 with Dunn driving for trainer Chuck Sylvester. He also won on June 21, in 2:06.4. The trotting colt is owned by Amy Stoltzfus, Charles Stansley and John Licausi. He was bred by Samuel Stoltzfus Jr. and sold for $40,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. His family includes Grand Circuit winner Dog Gone Lucky.
Filly trotter Magic Bee (Father Patrick-Beehive) won in 2:02.4 with Dunn driving for Norman. She is owned by David McDuffee and breeder Herb Liverman. She sold for $130,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She is a half-sister to 2013 Horse of the Year and U.S. Hall of Famer Bee A Magician, who was campaigned by Norman, McDuffee, Liverman and Mel Hartman.
Social Drinker (Captaintreacherous-Acclamation) won in 2:01.4 for Dunn and Ryder. The colt pacer is owned by Ryder Henderson Mondillo, In The Gym Partners, Alan Johnston and Barry Spak. He was bred by Fred Hertrich III and sold for $150,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. His family includes Dan Patch Award winners Mattaroni and Rocklamation, who is the dam of millionaire Rocknificent.
Prominence (Father Patrick-Evident Beauty) won in 1:58.3 for driver David Miller and trainer Carter Pinske. The filly trotter also won on June 21, in 2:03.3. A $190,000 buy at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, she is owned by Pinske Stables, Mel Hartman and Little E LLC. She was bred by Hartman, Little E, Steve Stewart and Maumee River Stables. She is the first foal out of Evident Beauty, who was an O’Brien Award winner.
Draw Off (Heston Blue Chip-Stylish Artist) won in 2:01 for Dunn and Ryder. The homebred pacing colt is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Howard Taylor, Lawrence Rosen and Enviro Stables. He is a three-quarter brother to O’Brien Award winner Tattoo Artist.
Blazing Deo (Six Pack-UF Lindsay Lou Who) won in 2:02.2 for Miller and Norman. The homebred filly trotter, owned by Deo Volente Farms, also won on June 21, in 2:04.3. She is a half-sister to Grand Circuit winner Primadonna Deo out of the family of Trotting Triple Crown winner and multiple O'Brien and Dan Patch Award recipient Marion Marauder.
To view Wednesday's qualifying results, click here.
A replay of The First Mile's broadcast of Wednesday's qualifiers is available below.
(With files from USTA)