Musical Rhythm wins again, trotters set national season’s mark at Mohawk
June 28, 2016,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — A return to his local track turned into yet another convincing victory for Musical Rhythm Monday (June 27) night at Mohawk Racetrack.
The Ben Baillargeon trainee was a four length winner in Monday’s eight-horse $25,840 Preferred Trot in 1:52.2. Musical Rhythm is now six-for-six at Mohawk this season and a perfect 11-for-11 on the WEG circuit in 2016.
The 4-year-old son of Cantab Hall was making his first start Monday since finishing sixth in a leg of the Graduate Series at Tioga Downs on June 12.
Driven by Mario Baillargeon, Musical Rhythm trotted along in mid-pack until getting his cue to march on first up around the final turn. Fearless Man, who had made a second quarter move to the lead, led the field around the far turn and held a narrow advantage over the first over challenger at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.
In the stretch, Musical Rhythm powered right on by Fearless Man and pulled away from his rivals with ease. The Baillargeon trainee trotted home in :28.2 for the comfortable victory. Whiskey Tax, who led at the opening quarter, finished second, while Olympic Son was third.
Musical Rhythm now has 11 wins from 13 starts this season for earnings of $151,823. He is owned by Santo and Nunzio Vena, Claude Hamel and Ben Baillargeon. Monday’s victory is the 20th career score for Musical Rhythm and pushes his career earnings to $237,344. He paid $3.20 to win.
Top trotters were the main attraction Monday evening, but it was a pair of overnight performances that caught the attention of many.
The 5-year-old gelding Domitian Hall won the evening’s fifth race, a $15,200 overnight event, by 10-1/4 lengths in a stunning 1:51.2. The clocking was a new career-best for the son of Justice Hall and became the nation’s fastest trotting mile of the season by an older male trotter.
However, the same class was split into two races and 4-year-old Rubber Duck would match Domitian Hall’s mark with his own 1:51.2 mile later in the evening.
The son of Muscle Mass knocked more than three seconds off his previous career-best with the national season’s record-equaling mile.
In the fifth race, Domitian Hall and Jonathan Drury got away seventh and marched their way towards the front in the middle half, ultimately grabbing command at the three-quarter pole in 1:24.3. The 5-year-old finished off his mile with a :26.4 final quarter for the blowout victory.
In the ninth race, Rubber Duck sat in the three hole until making a move to the front around the final turn for driver Jack Moiseyev. The 4-year-old had to deal with Cash For Gold pressing him throughout the lane, but the Julie Walker trainee was game and held him off with a :28 final quarter.
Domitian Hall was making his debut for new trainer Carmen Auciello Monday night. He now has five wins in 21 starts this season and 14 throughout the course of his career.
Rubber Duck picked up his second win in six starts this season Monday. His impressive mile gives him six career victories.
Musical Rhythm held the previous season’s mark for an older male trotter of 1:52, taken on March 7 at Woodbine. The fastest trotting mile overall this season in Canada is 1:51, posted by Hannelore Hanover in the Armbro Flight final on June 18 at Mohawk.
Monday’s card also featured three $53,200 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for sophomore trotting colts and geldings.
Bee In Charge took advantage of a stretch break by the leader to win the first division in a career-best 1:54.3. The gelded son of Manofmanymissions is a half-brother to the great Bee A Magician. Chris Christoforou guided the Per Henriksen trainee to his third win of the season.
Zagster was able to convert off a second over trip from driver Trevor Henry to win the second split in 1:55.2. The gelded son of Muscle Mass is trained by Shannon Henry and now has two wins on the season.
The final division featured a trio of horses (Will Take Charge, Dia Monde and Tony Soprano) coming out of the Goodtimes final. Will Take Charge, who finished second in the Goodtimes, grabbed command in the second quarter and never looked back en route to a career-best 1:53 score. The gelded son of Kadabra was driven to his third win of the season by Paul MacDonell for trainer John Bax.
Live racing continues Tuesday night at Mohawk with another 10-race card. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
- Will Take Charge is sharp in OSS opener (Tuesday, June 28, 2016)
Will Take Charge delivered a commanding performance in the Ontario Sire Stakes Gold Series season opener for 3-year-old trotting colts at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening, posting the fastest mile of three $53,200 divisions.