After a challenging first quarter, Barn Girl glided effortlessly through the slop en route to her third straight victory in Tuesday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Leaving from post 8, the 1-2 favourite won a three-ply battle for the lead for driver Aaron Merriman. She easily parried the first-over thrust of Manhattan Miss and scored in 1:57.1. Bessie split horses to finish second, 1-1/2 lengths back, while Unefoisdansmavie rallied for show.

Bill Bercury trains Barn Girl, a four-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Turquoise Sweetie who now has won 26 of 54 lifetime starts (48.1 percent) and earned $344,296 for Renee Bercury. It was one of four wins for Merriman on the 13-race card.

(with files from The Meadows)