Hollywood writers couldn’t have scripted a better finish than the one that fans were treated to on Monday night at Woodbine Racetrack in the $61,000 final of the Don Mills Trotting Series.
Afternoon Dreams and Sand Wyndham, who were perfect in the preliminary legs, were joined by a hard-driving John Pauls Legacy in a thrilling three-horse photo finish.
Sand Wyndham looped Afternoon Dreams right at the quarter pole in :27 seconds before backing down the speed in the second panel. In charge past the mid-way point in :57 seconds, Sand Wyndham came under pressure around the final turn from Andovers Son.
Sand Wyndham, who rolled past the three-quarter station in 1:26.4, was holding on for dear life in deep stretch with Afternoon Dreams lurking in the pocket spot and John Pauls Legacy charging off cover. Afternoon Dreams wiggled out of the two-hole and eked out the nose decision in a time of 1:55.1 over Sand Wyndham and John Pauls Legacy.
Mario Baillargeon engineered the winning trip with the four-year-old daughter of Dream Vacation, who is now five-for-five in 2009.
“I knew Paul [MacDonell driving Sand Wyndham] was going to open the rail, and Mark’s [MacDonald driving Andovers Son] horse came first up on me last week and I knew he’d be tough,” said Baillargeon. “I wanted to get a two-hole trip behind Ben Wallace’s horse [Sand Wyndham] , and we needed that trip to win. It’s not too often you see a mare beat the boys.”
It was the second series victory for Afternoon Dreams, who earlier this year captured the $57,100 final of the Lifetime Dream Trotting Series for trainer Ben Baillargeon, who had high praise for the mare following the series sweep.
“She was a little off her game last week, she had a bit of a high white count,” said Baillargeon. “I pulled a sample on her this morning and things looked good. Ronnie Burke told me she reminds him of Buck I St Pat.”
It was the 18th lifetime victory for Afternoon Dreams, who has banked $180,702 for Pennsylvania partners Sylvia Burke and Randy Ringer.
To view Monday’s results, click here.