Baillargeon indulges in a little ‘Baby’ talk
Campbellville, ON --- Trainer Ben Baillargeon likes his chances when it comes to 3-year-old trotting filly Oh Sweet Baby, who goes to post for the lone SBOA elimination on Friday evening (August 19) at Mohawk Racetrack.
Oh Sweet Baby, last year’s $297,000 OSS Super Final winner, has eluded tough competition Friday evening as three fillies, Peach Martini, Lukes Sophie and Mystic Allure, have all accepted byes to the C$148,654 final, based on highest money earned.
Baillargeon feels with the absence of her main adversary, his filly can find her way to the winner’s circle.
“She is a good filly,” stated the Rockwood, Ont., resident. “She’s proved it and she is going to prove it again. There is no Peach Martini Friday. Peach Martini and (Oh Sweet Baby) have been pretty much archrivals lately.”
Oh Sweet Baby may fill her trainer with confidence now, but over a month ago, the daughter of Angus Hall-Galahads Damsel gave him a scare. On July 15, the day of her Canadian Breeders Championship elimination, Oh Sweet Baby injured her back leg.
“She went through the fence at home and so we scratched her,” explained Baillargeon. “She had some bad cuts and we had to give her time off. Her leg swelled up and luckily nothing was broken.”
Baillargeon still isn’t certain as to why it happened.
“She goes out every day and she always goes out in the paddock,” he said. “I don’t know what happened, something must have freaked her out and she just went through the fence.”
The bay has had two starts since returning from her injury and Baillargeon feels his filly is back in top form.
When Oh Sweet Baby leaves from post four in the C$25,000 dash, Baillargeon admits he is putting the game-plan in the hands of her driver, his brother, Mario.
“My brother can take care of (the trip),” he said. “He can do it any way, like she cut in (1):55.2 at Georgian Downs. The week after she came first-up and she just missed by a head to Peach Martini. When she is on her game she can do it any which way. I think she is right on her game this week.”
Oh Sweet Baby has a lifetime record of 4-4-2 in 20 starts, boasting $349,813 in earnings for owner Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que.
The elimination will line up as follows with the top seven horses advancing to the rich final:
PP-Horse-Listed Driver
1. Eagle Canada-Doug McNair
2. China Pearls-Randy Waples
3. Angel Warken-Mike Saftic
4. Oh Sweet Baby-Mario Baillargeon
5. Ka Jean-Rick Zeron
6. Universal Goddess-Chris Christoforou
7. Youlneverwalkalone-Trevor Ritchie
8. Magic Wheel-Joe Hudon
9. Honey Thorn-Scott Zeron
10. L A Freeway-Steve Byron