After having not driven a horse since early June, reinsman Mario Baillargeon was back in the sulky during Mohawk Racetrack’s Tuesday, August 15 qualifying session, and he returned in style, of course.
The Campbellville, Ont. oval hosted a compact, five-race morning session, and Baillargeon’s only drive came in Race 5 aboard Mystical Mission, a four-year-old Manofmanymissions gelding that is trained and co-owned by Mario’s brother, Ben.
Mario and Mystical Mission started from Post 4 and worked out a two-hole trip through the fractions (:29.1, :57.3, 1:27.4), which were cut by Alpha Seelster and driver J.R. Plante.
Baillargeon popped the pocket after the three-quarters call and was on top by two and a half lengths at the head of the stretch. The duo came home with a :29.4 final quarter and posted a three and three-quarter-length win in 1:58.
The drive was Baillargeon’s first since June 6 at Mohawk.
The WEG circuit regular has been one of Canada’s top reinsmen for decades. He has recorded more than 7,600 driving wins and has steered his mounts to more than $96 million in career purse earnings.
Mindtrip (1:53.2), Billie Holiday (2:01.3), Thunder Some Where (1:58) and Audacious (2:03.2) also won races during the qualifying session.
To view the harness racing results for the Tuesday qualifiers at Mohawk, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack (Qualifying).