by Greg Gangle, WEG media

Toronto, ON — It’s that time of year again where the majority of top stakes horses are surfacing and trainer Casie Coleman once again displayed some of her top stock this Thursday morning (May 12) at Mohawk.

Western Silk, last year’s Fan Hanover Stakes and Jugette winner, captured her first charted line of 2011 Thursday morning. The daughter of Western Terror came from off the pace and scored the victory in 1:55.1, using a :26.1 final quarter.

Trained and co-owned by Coleman, along with Tom Hill, Western Silk will re-appear next Thursday according to Coleman.

“I was really pleased with the way she qualified this morning,” Coleman said. “I will bring her back next week and probably go around (1):53ish then find a race for her. Mark (driver Mark MacDonald) said she steered great, with two fingers.

“Her first test will be at Flamboro in the Ellamony, then off to Georgian for the Masters Series then the Roses Are Red.”

Pretty Katherine, who earned $348,590 and equaled the world record of 1:50.3 last season, made her second qualifying appearance. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover finished second behind North America Cup eligible Watermelonwine in 1:52.4.

“She’s right on schedule,” Coleman said. “Her first test will be at the Meadowlands in the Miss New Jersey, then she will come back for the Fan Hanover. Mark (driver Mark MacDonald) said she was perfect today.”

Coleman’s other pupil, Ohmygosh Hanover, stopped the timer in 1:56. A winner of $149,040 as a freshman, the son of The Panderosa is owned by Tom Hill.

“That’s roughly the time we wanted to go,” Coleman commented. “‘Gosh’ doesn’t do any more than he has to. He’s much better coming from off the pace but that didn’t happen today. He’s not the type that likes to over exert himself.”

After earning $289,068 last year at two, Peach Martini surfaced for the first time this year for trainer/driver Rick Zeron. The daughter of Striking Sahbra finished second with her own mile timed in 1:58.4.

“She qualified just perfect,” Zeron said following the qualifier. “She’s right on schedule and we’re off to Western Fair for next Friday for the first (Ontario Sire Stakes) Gold.

“She’s a pleasure to sit behind, everything you want her to do, she does it so easily.”

Zeron also noted that Lady Rainbow, a winner of $209,633 last season, will make her charted line this coming Monday at Mohawk.

Other qualifying winners include: Tall Cotton-1:59.4, Enchantment-1:58.3, L A Freeway-1:58.4, Extraordinaire-1:58.1, Prodigal Seelster-1:52.4, Eagle Canada-1:58.1 and Kyle Major-1:54.2.