The betting public was in love with P L Jill in Monday’s $34,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but it was her stablemate Musical Rhythm who turned in a sharp performance for Team Baillargeon to win the featured affair.
Musical Rhythm, in rein to Mario Baillargeon, made the early lead and had the five others chasing him past the quarter pole in :27.2. Odds-on favourite P L Jill sprinted to the lead in the backstretch and she was two lengths the best at the mid-way point in :57.3.
P L Jill was still in command of the tempo at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2, but she couldn’t seal the deal. Musical Rhythm fired out of the pocket spot as the field entered the lane, and his :27-second closing quarter propelled him to the win by 2-1/4 lengths over Dunbar Hall in 1:53.3. Free Willy Hanover took home the show dough.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon co-owns the gritty son of Cantab Hall-Musical Victory with partners Claude Hamel and the Venas – Santo and Nunzio. The seven-year-old, who recently surpassed $750,000 in career earnings, now owns a 3-3-2 record from 11 starts this season. It was the 32nd lifetime win for the classy campaigner.
Perfetto established a national season’s record for trotters when he toured the Mohawk Park oval in 1:53 in a $24,000 conditioned event for trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen.
The gelding sat fourth most of the mile while Hemi Seelster raced through hot fractions of :26.3, :55 and 1:23.4. Perfetto commenced a rally going to the three-quarter pole, and his :27.4 closing speed earned him the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Magic Night. Exemplar was third.
Gerald Haggerty of Camden East, Ont. Owns the four-year-old son of Majestic Son-Perfect Prelude. The victory was the trotter’s fourth of the season, and it was the eighth of his career. The $12,000 payday bumped his lifetime earnings over $470,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.