When One More Ginny found herself in the Ben Baillargeon barn late last season, she quickly developed the nickname the ‘Tank’ from the Rockwood conditioner.
“She’s a big mare, I mean really big,” Baillargeon said. “She’s just a tank and that’s her nickname at the farm.”
After a successful 2012 season, One More Ginny has started off her four-year-old campaign in fine form and will look to add to that in the $43,000 final of the Lifetime Dream Series this Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack.
The daughter of Angus Hall banked $162,558 last season --- a campaign in which she recorded her 1:53.1 track record at Woodbine for sophomore trotting fillies.
The bay also finished second in the $300,000 OSS Super Final for Baillargeon.
“She got really good at the end of last season,” Baillargeon said. “She was a late bloomer and we decided to end last season on a high note and get ready for this year.”
The seven-time winner has returned this season in top form with a victory in her 2013 debut last week in the second division of the series by one and a half lengths in 1:56.4.
“You couldn’t ask for much more in her first start back,” Baillargeon said. “They went slow fractions early and she wasn’t used hard, got a great trip and flew home. That was a good mile for her to start the season.”
Looking ahead to the final, Baillargeon expects his pupil to be even better.
“She now has that start under her belt and she’ll be that much better in the final,” he said. “She drew well (Post 3) and the race last week didn’t take anything out of her.”
Baillargeon admits that One More Ginny has been a pleasant surprise since entering his barn and he along with owner Kor Stable has high hopes for the trotting lass.
“To be honest, I didn’t think she would turn out to be this good,” he said. “She just got better and better towards the end of the last year. I think she could be a great filly and yes, we have high hopes for her. We staked her heavily this season and although she’s only four years old, I feel she’s very capable.”
When asked about One More Ginny’s best attribute, Baillargeon didn’t miss a beat.
“She’s so tough,” he said. “There is always something left at the end of the mile. She’s a big tough mare. Again, she’s a tank.”
The Lifetime Dream is for four and five-year-old trotting mares who are non-winners of $200,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2012.
Also on Saturday’s program, the $44,000 final of the Don Mills Series will take place in Race 8. The Don Mills is for four and five-year-old trotters who are non-winners of $150,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2012.
To view entries for Saturday night's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Racetrack.
(WEG)