Mystical Ryan captured the featured $15,000 Preferred Trot Tuesday night at Georgian Downs in wire-to-wire fashion, beating out favourite Save My Ashes for team
Baillargeon.
With Mario Baillargeon in the bike for brother Ben, who handles the training duties, Mystical Ryan fired off the gate from Post 8 and maintained a comfortable lead on the field through stations of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:25.1. The altered son of Striking Sahbra-Eclectia, sent postward as the 2-1 second choice, then held off defending champion Save My Ashes, who rallied off second-over cover at the head of the lane and came on for second. Mystical Ryan prevailed by half a length in 1:54.4. Mystic Conquest (Dan Clements) finished two lengths back in third.
Frank Cirillo of Kleinburg, Ont. owns the winning seven-year-old, who has won four of his last six starts. For Mystical Ryan, the victory was his sixth of the year in 26 outings and lifted his bankroll to $112,870.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click here.