![BrainardBaillargeon.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/headline_image_1024_x_577/public/BrainardBaillargeon.jpg?itok=nqOO4fS7)
With just two days remaining in the 2009 racing season, the race for the WEG trainer’s title looks as though it will come right down to the wire
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Entering Monday night’s program, Ben Baillargeon holds a one-win edge over Tracy Brainard, 106 to 105.
Baillargeon is looking for his second straight top trainer award after tying last season with Rob Fellows. Up until recently, it looked as though the Quebec native would cruise to the title outright this season.
However, Brainard has made an impressive late-season push to close the gap. The New York State native is in the midst of a career season and is a finalist, along with fellow female conditioner Casie Coleman, for Canada’s Trainer Of The Year.
The Brainard barn has been the hottest at Woodbine over the past month and will send out five starters on Monday night including three morning-line favourites; One More Drink (5-2) in race 7, Blue Suede Shoes (2-1) in race 11 and Did It Again (5-2) in race 12. Brainard will also send out Major Hottie (7-2) as the second choice in race nine and Duke Did It as a 6-1 proposition in race 10.
Baillargeon has just two starters going postward on the program but is well represented by 2-1 morning-line choice Thrillionaire in the $60,000 Niagara Pacing Series Final (race 8) and 3-1 top choice Lily De Lis in the sixth race trot.
Despite sitting second by wins, Brainard is easily the top money-winning trainer on the circuit this season with $4,632,762 banked so far.
On the driver’s side, Jody Jamieson has locked up another WEG driver’s title and sits with 303 wins going into the final two days of the meet. That total puts him 32 ahead of fellow competitor Randy Waples, who recently hit the 5,000 career win plateau.
Jamieson, who was recently named as an O’Brien Award finalist, set a new Canadian record for wins this year when he surpassed the mark of 739 set by Mark MacDonald in 2006. He is also poised to win the North American dash-winning title and will become the first Canadian-based driver since Ron Waples back in 1979 to accomplish the feat.
To view tonight's entries, click here.
(WEG)