Despite being off the pegs for nine-sixteenths of the mile and having to negotiate failing cover, P L Jill ($5.90) had enough in the tank to beat the boys in Monday's (April 1) featured $34,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
As even-money favourite Free Willy Hanover (Jonathan Drury) sprinted off to a :27.4 first quarter, Sylvain Filion nestled P L Jill in fifth behind Perfetto (Dagfin Henriksen) on approach to the first turn. Up the far side, Free Willy Hanover pulled the tempo back to a :58 half, but P L Jill established a second-over striking spot behind the cover of Perfetto on approach to the far turn.
The six-year-old Kadabra mare was towed into contention through the sweeping turn, but ultimately was forced three-wide with five-sixteenths to go as Perfetto began to falter. Free Willy Hanover turned for home under siege from pocket rival Cue Hall (James MacDonald), who shook free off the corner and stuck a head in front at the eighth pole, only for P L Jill to lift down the centre of the track and reel Cue Hall in by half a length in 1:55.1. St James Gate (Chris Christoforou) emerged belatedly for third.
P L Jill, now a 19-time winner, is owned by breeder Prince Lee Acres in partnership with Jill Coleman and Alan Christensen. She swept off cover for a similar Preferred win on March 11 after winning her first two starts of 2019.
Dunbar Hall coasted to a 1:55.1 win in the sub-featured $24,000 upper-level trot, evading an inside rally from Seeyou Men while well in hand to the line. Jody Jamieson was at the lines of the five-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe gelding for trainer Stephanie Jamieson and owners Carl Jamieson and George Harrison. Another sub-featured race, a $20,000 conditioned trotting event, saw Monopoly ($7.10) sweep from last to first for a going-away 1:54.3 win over Derf Hanover. Roger Mayotte drove the six-year-old Muscle Mass gelding for 8113564 Canada Ltd. and trainer Melissa Lamoureux.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.