Class relief combined with an aggressive approach for a lethal trainer/driver duo paid dividends for Sweet Heaven in Friday’s feature race at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Sent off as the even-money choice in the $22,000 conditioned event for distaffers, Sweet Heaven got away fourth for driver Sylvain Filion while Hello Love led the field to the quarter pole in :29.4. Filion stomped on his mare’s accelerator in the second quarter, and she quickly surged to the top on the way to the mid-way point.
Sweet Heaven proceeded to carve out middle panels of :57.4 and 1:26.2 before swinging into the lane and being confronted by the pocket-sitting Hello Love. Sweet Heaven dug down deep and used her :27.4 closing quarter kick to win by a neck over Hello Love in 1:54.1. Third prize went to Rose Run Victory.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon co-owns the five-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-L Dees Heavenlyval with Rick Heinz and the Vena brothers – Santo and Nunzio. The sharp score give the mare 11 lifetime wins and the lion’s share of the purse bumped her overall bankroll to $124,271.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.