It certainly appears as though trainer Ben Baillargeon has power in numbers in this year’s Lifetime Dream Trotting Series
. The second leg of the series, which was contested at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday evening, saw Baillargeon pupils dominate in two of the three $25,000 divisions.
Afternoon Dreams was sent off as the 1-5 favourite in the opening division, and she won like a 1-5 should – by open lengths.
The four-year-old daughter of Dream Vacation, who was a $55,000 purchase from the 2008 Harrisburg Mixed Sale, took an early tuck into the three-hole for driver Mario Baillargeon before rolling to the lead at the quarter pole.
After throwing down middle panels of :59 and 1:28.2 she summoned up a :29-second final quarter en route to posting the 1:57.2 decision. Fa Mulan came first over and finished second with Shopaholic rounding out the top three.
Sylvia Burke of Fredericktown and Randy Ringer of Washington, PA share ownership on the four-year-old Dream Vacation miss who went 13-for-17 in 2008. Monday’s victory was her first of the season and the 14th of her career. She boasts $96,652 in lifetime earnings.
The new and improved Ocean Mist Dynasty romped away from her foes in the second division, winning by a nine-length margin as the 8-5 favourite in a career-best clocking of 1:56.
Driven by Mario Baillargeon, the four-year-old Angus Hall miss steamrolled through fractions of :27.4, :58.3 and 1:26.3 before scooting home in :29.2 to secure the win. Northern Flare was second and Scottish Cross finished third.
It was the fifth lifetime victory for the mare, who has stashed away $65,277 in lifetime earnings for owner Gaetan Bono of Laval, QC.
Saqqara Dream took the third division in an equally impressive clocking of 1:56. Luc Ouellette engineered the off-the-pace score with the four-year-old daughter of Andover Hall, who hangs her harness bag in the barn of trainer Trond Smedshammer.
The mare got a bit steppy leaving the gate, and that forced driver Luc Ouellette to steady her into an early five hole. She made a bold move to the lead up the backstretch and simply opened up on her foes in the lane. She powered away to win by more than four lengths over longshots La Dolce and Nashotah.
Now 2-for-2 in 2009, Saqqara Dream won for the sixth time in her career while pushing her overall bankroll to $56,785. She is owned by LLC Deo Volente Farms of Flemington, NJ.
The $57,100 final of the Lifetime Dream Trotting Series goes next Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack.
To view Monday’s results, click here.