BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Mohawk Trail, a graded stakes winner on turf, will make her first start on synthetic Friday night at Turfway Park in the $125,000 Likely Exchange presented by Claiborne Farm, a one mile contest for 11 fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older. The Kelsey Danner-trained mare will also be racing under the lights and at Turfway Park for the first time after making 14 of her 15 previous starts on grass courses at Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Woodbine, Kentucky Downs, Keeneland and Aqueduct.
Mohawk Trail tries to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since taking the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen at Woodbine in July of 2023 although she was a solid second to Florida-bred Charlie’s Wish in the $110,000 Pleasant Acres Distaff going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Tampa Downs turf in March of last year. She was also sharp in her only race this year when third in an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming won by Ozara going a mile at Tampa Bay on Jan. 3.
The 5-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile has a solid lifetime ledger with four wins, two seconds and two thirds in 15 starts while earning $242,789 for owners Art Neuhedel, John Ballantyne and Daryl Shaw’s NBS Stable. NBS purchased Mohawk Trail for $180,000 out of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Four Star Sales.
Mohawk Trail is out of Iroquis Girl, by Indian Charlie and was bred in Florida by Westbury Stables LLC.
She is 10-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post five by Gerado Corrales.
Trainer Jose Carroll will saddle Earhart (Fr) for the Likely Exchange.
Set as the 5-2 morning line favorite, Earhart is undefeated in two starts, both going seven furlongs on the synthetic main track at Woodbine.
Earhart won a maiden special weight in her first career start by nearly seven lengths on Nov. 9 then dominated a first level, $32,000 optional claiming by 11 lengths on Dec. 7.
By Siyouni (Fr) out of Aviatress (Ire), by Shamardal, the 4-year-old Earhart has earned $62,149 in her two starts.
She has post three and jockey Luis Contreras.
Rounding out the field are Peak Popularity with jockey Gabriel Saez, Queen Leca (Uru) and rider Albin Jimenez, She’s Fancy with Sophie Doyle taking the riding assignment, Neverwalkalone (Brz) with Evin Roman in the saddle, Everaland will carry Abel Cedillo, Luan Machado rides Hurry Up Hannah, Always Wanting will have Fernando De La Cruz in the irons, Pendulum and jockey Adam Beschizza and Yarmarie Correa has the mount on Stay Lost.
Return to the January 22 issue of Wire to Wire
