Once a week, throughout the harness racing season, Woodbine Mohawk Park will profile a horse who had a life-changing impact on one of their closest connections in 2024.

The series begins featuring trainer Sara Baillargeon and her family’s homebred trotter, Dealin With Dewey.

“I looked after his mother and I was there when he was born, so he will forever hold a special place in my heart,” said Baillargeon of her beloved seven-year-old gelding.

Dealin With Dewey
Foaled: June 15, 2018
Sire: Wheeling N Dealin (ON)
Dam: Rockin with Dewey
Starts-Wins-Seconds-Thirds: 114-20-21-13
Earnings: $356,602
Trainer: Sara Baillargeon
Owner: Sara Baillargeon
Breeder: Benoit Baillargeon

What were your first impressions of Dealin With Dewey?

“Even now as a seven-year-old, I am reminded daily of how much ‘mother’ is in him. She was opinionated in the barn and a handful on the track. As a youngster, he was very similar. He had a couple setbacks during his three-year-old and four-year-old campaigns, and during those times, he showed me he inherited her grit as well.

“I am thankful to have had my father’s help in developing him; I couldn’t have done it alone. He still has his quirks, but he’s calmer now. He's very much a routine-oriented horse and he's got to have a buddy. He's very dependent on a friend – I might have to invest in a pony someday when I retire him.”

How would you describe his personality?

“He's awesome. He's always in a good mood. I mentioned his routine, he likes to stick to that. Every morning, he recognizes my car and he nickers when the barn door opens. If you keep him happy, he looks after you.

“He loves being outside and, as I said previously, he has to have a best friend at all times. He gets very attached.”

What do you remember from the first win you had together?

“Our first win together was his first start of his three-year-old season. I was only his groom at the time, though. As his trainer, it was at Mohawk with Louis [Philippe Roy]. He went back-to-back after that win, which made that stretch extra special.

“Louis has probably driven him the most, but we’ve been lucky to team up repeatedly with Uncle Mario [Baillargeon], Sylvain [Filion], Jason [Ryan] and Aaron [Byron] over the years. Each of them knows how protective I am of 'Cooper' [Dealin With Dewey’s barn name].”

Three words to describe him?

“Happy. Determined. Social.”

How has he changed your life?

“He has made a lasting impact on me. I can rely on him to fit my lifestyle. He tries every start, and at the end of the year, he has covered his expenses and he's always looked after his best friend.

“In the last year, he's taught me how to manage him differently. He had a well-deserved winter vacation and didn’t start racing until April. Then in August, he gave me a 1:51.3 win at Mohawk. That was a very emotional night for me.

“He also enabled my boyfriend and I to try out the meet at Saratoga in the fall. He's provided me with plenty of exciting opportunities.”

(With files from Woodbine)