Campbellville, ON --- Ben Baillargeon will send out a quartet of starters in this Saturday’s (Oct. 11) C$250,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals at Mohawk and will be looking for a little bit of luck along the way.
The post position gods weren’t kind to Baillargeon as his two best chances Saturday evening drew posts nine and 10, while his other two starters drew post position seven.
However, bad post positions or not, Baillargeon’s starters all appear to have a chance to be a factor on Saturday evening.
The first horse Baillargeon will send forward Saturday is the 3-year-old colt trotter Muscle Matters, who will start from post position nine.
Despite having not recorded a victory in eight starts this season, the son of Muscle Mass has finished second six times and banked over $151,414.
“He’s very shy of the winner’s circle this year,” said Baillargeon. “He had bad luck early in the spring and it’s been a tough year.”
Baillargeon is hopeful that Muscle Matters, who won last year’s Super Final as a 2-year-old, can finally get the job done on Saturday.
“A race is a race, like he’s been there, but he doesn’t win, but hopefully that might change and this Saturday would be the time.”
In order to defend his title, Muscle Matters will have to defeat the divisional standout Harper Blue Chip, who has yet to lose a Sires Stakes event this season in three starts.
Baillargeon’s second starter on Saturday evening won’t have to deal with a powerhouse like Harper Blue Chip, but instead will meet a very even group of 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
Lets Be Honest (PP7), a son of Deweycheatumnhowe, will be looking to break his maiden in style on Saturday evening.
In his most recent start on September 30, Lets Be Honest finished fourth after being off since August 5.
“Last week was his first start in six or seven weeks and I sent him back to the owners in between,” said Baillargeon. “I know he hurt himself and he didn’t do too much in between.”
Baillargeon believes the son of Deweycheatumnhowe will be better in his second start off the shelf.
“He should be tighter, he should race well and he trained real well on Wednesday.”
Baillargeon’s final two starters on Saturday evening will lineup in the 3-year-old filly trot Super Final.
White Becomes Her (PP10), a daughter of Angus Hall, was an early season standout in this division and has banked $225,494 this year.
Meanwhile, Miss Liv, a daughter of Kadabra, has yet to win this year, but has quietly earned $112,067.
Both fillies have put together solid seasons, but Baillargeon knows they will have their hands full with another filly in the race.
“They’ve been two nice mares, but they need luck. Riveting Rosie is razor sharp right now and I got lucky at the beginning of the year she wasn’t that great and mine (White Becomes Her) was real good back then, but it’s a race.”
White Becomes Her captured a division of the first two Gold legs of the season, while Riveting Rosie won a division of the final three legs.
Ben’s brother Mario will handle the driving duties behind Muscle Matters, Lets Be Honest and White Becomes Her, while Steven Condren will drive Miss Liv.
The veteran conditioner has his quartet set for Saturday evening and will now just need a little bit of help.
“Everybody’s healthy and everything looks okay, so we just need luck.”