by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Musical Rhythm has been the hottest trotter around over the last few months and Monday night (March 7) at Woodbine Racetrack he continued his dominance.

The Ben Baillargeon trainee stepped up to tackle Preferred trotters Monday. Musical Rhythm entered the Preferred on a six-race win streak, including a sweep of the General Brock Series. Mild temperatures and a fast track set the stage for the six-horse C$34,000 Preferred.

New Image Media photo

Musical Rhythm has won seven in a row and nine of 10 starts since joining the Ben Baillargeon barn.

Driven by Mario Baillargeon, Musical Rhythm, the 3-5 favorite, used his tremendous gate speed and sprinted to an early lead. After an opening quarter of :27.1, Fearless Man circled around from second to grab command for Rick Zeron entering the backstretch.

Zeus Lightning was parked around the first turn and came charging up looking for the lead heading to the half, but Zeron refused to surrender the front. The two trotters waged war throughout the middle half and set solid fractions of :55.2 and 1:23.2. Meanwhile, Baillargeon and Musical Rhythm waited patiently in behind the lead pair.

In the stretch, Musical Rhythm was angled wide and powered by the leaders. The Baillargeon trainee trotted strongly through the wire for a four length victory in an eye-catching 1:52. Zeus Lightning battled hard to finish second, while Burnin Money got up for third.

Musical Rhythm has now won seven in a row and nine of 10 starts since joining the Baillargeon barn. The 4-year-old son of Cantab Hall was purchased in November by owners Baillargeon, Santo and Nunzio Vena and Claude Hamel.

Musical Rhythm’s clocking of 1:52 was not only a new career mark, but also North America’s fastest trotting mile this season. The Baillargeon trainee has banked C$61,000 in five starts this year. Monday’s victory was the 14th career score for Musical Rhythm and pushes his career earnings to more C$167,000. A $2 win ticket on Musical Rhythm returned $3.30.