All eyes were fixated on Charmed Life in Monday’s $27,000 Fillies & Mares Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, but the heavily favoured mare was forced to settle for the role of runner-up to Rockin With Dewey.
Team Baillargeon had to be wondering when Rockin With Dewey was going to find her way back to victory lane after starting the year 0-for-8, but they quickly got their answer in the featured tilt.
Mario Baillargeon got away fourth with the five-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Silky Celine while Riveting Rosie threw down first-half fractions of :27.3 and :57.3 over a track rated ‘good’ with a one-second allowance. Riveting Rosie was still on the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4, but Rockin With Dewey was making nice gains on the leader from her first-over position. Rockin With Dewey brushed to the top in the lane and used a :28-second kicker to pull off the 14-1 upset in a time of 1:55. Charmed Life, who was third-over around the final turn stormed home in :27.1 to grab the place position, while Bax Of Life staked claim to the show dough.
Trainer Ben Baillargeon of Rockwood co-owns the homebred with breeder Diane Ingham of Mount Pleasant, Ontario. The partners watched the mare push her lifetime earnings to $357,537 with the win.
A set of sophomores, who remain eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup, also found their way to the winner’s circle during Monday’s 11-race card.
Split The House, who was making his first career start, overcame a shaky start to win his pari-mutuel debut in 1:53.3 for driver Randy Waples and trainer James ‘Friday’ Dean. The three-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Shake That Junk parked past the quarter pole in :27.2 before working his way to the lead and slicing out remaining panels of :57.4 and 1:26.2. A :27.1 closing quarter was more than enough for the colt to win by 2-3/4 lengths as the 1-2 favourite.
Dean shares ownership on the colt with Scott Horner of Toronto and Peter Milligan of Etobicoke, Ontario. The partners shelled out $60,000 to purchase the pacer from the 2013 Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Physicallyinclined and The Spy, a pair of Pepsi North America Cup hopefuls, finished 1-2 in their $17,000 conditioned assignment. The Spy rocketed to the lead from Post 10 and cleared to the top shortly past the opening quarter in :26.2. He was overtaken by Physicallyinclined as they entered the backstretch, and after slicing out splits of :56.2 and 1:25.3 the favourite powered home in :26.3 to win by five lengths over The Spy in 1:52.1.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite in his 2015 debut, the son of Mach Three-Artisticallyinclined drew clear to win by five lengths for Nova Scotia partners Bruce McGean of Stewiacke and Sterling Feener. To date, the pacer has banked $53,400.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.