There’s been no stopping 'Team Baillargeon' in recent weeks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and it was more of the same on Monday evening at the Campbellville, Ont. oval as the paired up for a pair of wins including a score with Refi in the second leg of the Pepsi Trotting Series.
Refi, who was a 1:59.2 winner over an off track in last week’s opening leg of the series, turned a second over trip into a driving away victory in a sharp clocking of 1:55.
Mario Baillargeon got away fifth with Refi while Hat Trick Marleau shot to the top and had the field chasing him to the quarter marker in :28.2. Savini then marched up and grabbed the lead before being pressed to the half by the parked out Blazing Trail.
Blazing Trail worked his way to the front and proceeded to wheel the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3. He was being pestered by the first over Steuben Hanover, and tracking that foe’s cover was the odds-on favourite, Refi. It took a :27.4 closing panel for Refi to collar Steuben Hanover and then draw clear from that rival by 1-1/2 lengths. Steuben Hanover held on for the runner-up award, while Blazing Trail took home the show dough despite making a break in the lane.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon co-owns the four-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Blazing Musclegirl with Claude Hamel and the Vena brothers – Santo and Nunzio. The win was the third of the season from five attempts for Refi, who is now an 11-time winner to date. The career winner of $108,685 will go for the series sweep in next week’s final.
Monday’s card also featured the $36,000 Preferred Trot, and a rare dead-heat for win took place between race favourite On The Ropes and Perfetto.
It was Perfetto who rolled to the early lead for trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen. They chopped out the first quarter in :28.1 before giving way in the second quarter to On The Ropes and driver Jonathan Drury. On The Ropes proceeded to lead the field through middle panels of :57.2 and 1:26.2. Perfetto popped out of the pocket in the lane and his :27.3 closing speed earned him a share of the win with On The Ropes. The pair of them stopped the teletimer in 1:54.1. B Yoyo came on strong to finish third.
It was the second straight score for On The Ropes, who now owns a 3-0-1 record from six starts this season for trainer Carmen Auciello. The five-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Rs Giggles has racked up $238,148 in lifetime earnings. He’s owned by Percy Elkins of Milton, Ont.
Perfetto is now 2-for-5 this season for owner Gerald Haggerty of Camden East, Ont. The five-year-old son of Majestic Son-Perfect Prelude is now an 11-time winner with an overall cash stash of $277,556.
A two-horse accident occurred in Race 10 on Monday evening, and fortunately there were no serious injuries to the horses and drivers involved.
Cortez The Killer (Phil Hudon) made a sudden break around the final turn and fell. Ciona Bromach (Bob McClure) crashed into the back of Cortez The Killer and fell, as well. Cortez The Killer ran off before being apprehended in the first turn.
Phil Hudon bounced up quickly and came away unscathed. Bob McClure also came away with no injuries. Ciona Bromach suffered a number of lacerations on his front legs during his fall.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.