Trainer Ben Baillargeon celebrated a pair of O’Brien Award scores on Saturday evening, and on Monday night he hauled home a set of scores in the opening leg of the Pepsi Trotting Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Refi got things rolling for Team Baillargeon thanks to his front-stepping triumph in the opening division.
The four-year-old son of Chapter Seven-Blazing Musclegirl, in rein to Mario Baillargeon, marched to the top from Post 5 and successfully carved out panels of :30, 1:01 and 1:30.3 over a track rated ‘good’ with a two-second allowance. A :28.4 final frame was enough to earn him the win by 2-3/4 lengths over Stormont Rare in 1:59.2. Hat Trick Marleau enjoyed a pocket trip throughout and wound up third.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Refi improved this year’s record to 2-0-1 from four assignments while pushing his lifetime win total to 10 for owners Ben Baillargeon, Claude Hamel and the Vena brothers – Nunzio and Santo. The $9,000 payday bumped the trotter’s overall cash stash to $99,685.
Zig Zag went to the front for driver Mario Baillargeon in the second division, and they didn’t look back en route to posting a winning decision in 1:58.
The four-year-old son of Royalty For Life-Lady Donato chopped out splits of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:29 before scooting home in :29 to win by a half-length margin over Meeas Dream/ Knopfler rallied off of his cover late to finish third.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, Zig Zag saw his 2020 record improve to 2-2-0 from four tries with the win. The four-time winner has banked more than $80,000 to date. He is owned by Ben Baillargeon, Claude Hamel, Richard Thompson and Santo Vena.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon later completed his hat trick when class dropping mare P L Jill lit the lamp for the first time this season. She rallied to a 1:56.1 score in a $26,000 conditioned event with Mario Baillargeon at the controls.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.