Milton, ON — P L Jill scored an impressive victory in her jump up to the $25,500 Preferred Trot on Monday evening (Jan. 14) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 6-year-old mare came first-up on the far turn and kept on powering in the lane to defeat eight talented rivals in 1:54.3 for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Ben Baillargeon.

P L Jill was a 1:54.3 winner in the Preferred Trot. New Image Media photo.

An early battle saw Dancer Hall ignore the two-hole to move around to the lead going into the first turn, while rival Dunbar Hall was close to the top on the outside with eyes for the lead. Dancer Hall posted a :28.2 opener before surrendering the lead to Dunbar Hall, who led the field up to the half in :57.1.

P L Jill and Filion moved out from fourth at the half to start a first-up bid. Dunbar Hall held a narrow lead over P L Jill at three-quarters in 1:26.2 but made a break as he reached the third marker.

After inheriting the lead turning for home, P L Jill took care of business with a :28 last quarter to hold off runner-up Dancer Hall at the rail by a half-length. Free Willy Hanover rallied from last with a :27 final quarter to finish third, while B Yoyo was fourth.

P L Jill was making the move up to the Preferred on Monday off a strong victory in a $16,500 event on Jan. 7. The daughter of Kadabra was making her fifth start for trainer Baillargeon and collected her 17th career victory.

The Baillargeon barn has now won the Preferred in consecutive weeks, as Musical Rhythm, who finished fifth to P L Jill on Monday, captured last week’s edition.

Owned by breeder Prince Lee Acres along with Jill Coleman and Alan Christensen, P L Jill’s two for two start to 2019 brings her career earnings to $205,165. Her only other attempt at the Woodbine Preferred prior to Monday was a fifth-place finish on Dec. 4, 2017.

A $2 win ticket on P L Jill returned $9.60.

Live racing resumes Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:10 p.m.