by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — Peaceful Way, with new driver Paul MacDonell in tow, was victorious in qualifying action this morning at Mohawk Racetrack.

The Angus Hall 6-year-old mare went wire-to-wire through splits of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28, before turning on the afterburners with a :27 second final quarter to win in 1:55. Her margin of victory was 13-1/2 lengths.

Peaceful Way made a break in stride in her first race of the season in a $60,000 division of the Classic Oaks on May 5 at The Meadowlands. The connections had hoped to race her in this year’s Elitlopp in Sweden, but were forced to change plans after the disappointing initial result.

Trevor Ritchie took over the driving duties of Peaceful Way at the beginning of 2005 and had guided her to 14 wins in 21 starts over the last two seasons. He was recently replaced by MacDonell, who currently sits second in the WEG drivers’ standings this season. He is coming off one of his best seasons ever in 2006.

The multiple O’Brien Award-winning Peaceful Way is scheduled to make her next appearance in the June 9, third leg of the Classic Series at Mohawk. The career winner of $2.7 million will be looking to lock up a place in the $250,000 Classic Series Final which will also be held at Mohawk on June 16.

The fastest mile of the morning session came from JK Big Shot, who stopped the timer for Mark MacDonald in 1:52. He was a length better than Bob McIntosh’s Armbro Damien, who captured the 2006 Nat Christie Memorial in Calgary.

McIntosh also sent out a pair of winners in Constance Hall (2:00.1) and Just Plug It In (1:54.3).