BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Mohawk Trail lacked room at the top of the stretch but split rivals a furlong out on her way to a three-quarter-length score in the US$75,782 Alywow at Woodbine on June 25. The Kelsey Danner trainee defeated six other 3-year-old fillies over six-and-a-half furlongs on the grass to earn her first stakes victory with jockey Adam Beschizza aboard at odds of 10-1.

Mohawk Trail broke best of all from post four before longshot Collecting Flatter sprinted to the front on the inside and 8-5 favorite Ryder Ryder Ryder took second after starting from post six. Mohawk Trail settled into fourth, about two-and-a-half lengths behind Collecting Flatter and held that position into the turn after a quarter mile in :24.41. Ryder Ryder Ryder gained a narrow advantage tuning for home after finishing the half mile in :47.02 as Mohawk Trail looked for room at the top of the stretch. With a furlong to the finish, Mohawk Trail found a gap in the four path and darted to the front for the victory in 1:15.66 on the firm turf.

Up and Down finished second, a head faster than Last Call in third with Ryder Ryder Ryder another head farther back in fourth. Secret Money, Fearless Angel and Collecting Flatter completed the order of finish. Renegade Rebel and Florida-bred Star Candy were scratched.

Mohawk Trail paid $23.10 to win.

Jockey Adam Beschizza – Coady Photo

“She was doing everything a lot more forward than I really wanted to or anticipated,” Beschizza said after winning for the first time at Woodbine in his second appearance. “She broke right on top of the gate and was almost vying for the lead for the first furlong. Kelsey had her perfect for today and she’s really done a good job with her. She was in perfect condition coming into this, almost too ready. All she wanted to do was please. She was there very early from the beginning and almost there too soon. So, at the last eighth of a mile there, she was almost easing up, waiting for company.”

After finishing eighth in Mission of Joy’s Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs over a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf in March, Mohawk Trail improved to finish third behind winner Breath Away in the $104,000 Sanibel Island going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the Gulfstream Park grass on April 1. Just prior to the Alywow, Mohawk Trail just missed in the $150,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap when second, a half-length short of winner Safeen going a mile on the turf on May 17.

Bred by Westbury Stables LLC, Mohawk Trail is by Pioneerof the Nile out of the stakes-placed Iroquois Girl, by Indian Charlie and has now won three with a second and a third in eight starts. The US$45,469 first-place check in the Alywow increased her career earnings to $136,839 for owner NBS Stables LLC.

Mohawk Trail is the second foal and first winner for Iroquois Girl, who was third behind Richies Sweetheart in the 2015 Lightning City at Tampa Bay Downs. Iroquois Girl also has an unraced 2-year-old filly, Justify Charlie, by Justify, who was also bred in Florida by Westbury Stables.