by Bruce Murray, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — Armbro Amoretto and Serious Comfort, two past O’Brien Award-winning fillies, returned to qualifying action on Friday morning at Mohawk.

The pair were put through their paces in the third qualifying mile and both were impressive as they were separated by just three-quarters of a length at the wire in 1:55².

Armbro Amoretto, almost a year removed from her stirring Mistletoe Shalee victory at the Meadowlands, gradually made her way to the top for Luc Ouellette three-eighths into the mile. She put up middle panels of :58¹ and 1:27³ as noted closer Serious Comfort (Roger Mayotte) wound up from mid-pack. The standout duo left the rest of the field well back as they charged to the wire.

Though it was reported in June that the four-year-old Armbro Amoretto had been retired by owner Al Saul, trainer David Smith said today that a decision on the racing future of the millionaire daughter of Artsplace–Singin For Supper remains up in the air.

Meanwhile, Serious Comfort, who was Canada’s 2003 Two-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year, looked like her old self after missing more than six weeks. The Precious Bunny filly got off to a sluggish start this spring before being diagnosed with severe allergies.

“We had been treating her for allergies, but not winning the battle,” said owner George Millar. “In the (O.S.S.) Gold elim at Woodbine (on June 14), she bled. We gave her three weeks in the field and let nature take its course. Now we’re treating her for allergies and bleeding, so she’s on lasix. Since we started training her back, we’ve scoped her each time and she’s scoped clean.”

Miller said plans call for Serious Comfort to start in an upcoming O.S.S. Gold elimination, then onto the Fan Hanover Stakes eliminations at Woodbine.

“We’ll put her on a more selective stakes schedule now,” added Millar. “I’m really pleased with the way she went this morning. She went a pretty good back half (:56 including a final quarter of :26¹).”

Another notable in qualifying action was the “Grey Gladiator” Admirals Express, who spun off a wire-to-wire march in 1:52⁴ for Paul MacDonell. The ultimate warrior will meet and greet fans this coming Monday, August 2 at Grand River Raceway’s Industry Day.