TORONTO, February 15 – After impressive harness racing victories in last week's first leg, Musical Rhythm and Hillsonator met up in a second round division of the General Brock Series Monday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
A group of 15 three and four-year-old trotters were split into a pair of $18,000 second leg divisions.
Last week's first leg winners, Musical Rhythm, a two and a half length winner in 1:56, and Hillsonator, a four-length winner in 1:56.3, crossed paths in the second division.
Musical Rhythm blasted out from post three for driver Mario Baillargeon, while Hillsonator left from post seven and got away second for driver Rick Zeron.
The public's top choices sat first and second through opening fractions of :27.2 and :57. Musical Rhythm, who was the 1/2 favourite, picked up the tempo around the final turn and posted a three-quarter time of 1:25.3.
In the stretch, Musical Rhythm hit top gear and trotted strongly through the lane, while Hillsonator was all out in second. Musical Rhythm stopped the clock in 1:54, 2¼ lengths ahead of Hillsonator.
Amityville Lindy finished third, while All B Over was fourth.
A four-year-old son of Cantab Hall, Musical Rhythm stretched his current win streak to five with Monday's victory. The Ben Baillargeon trainee is three for three in 2016 and will have a chance at a series sweep in next week's final.
Musical Rhythm is owned by Santo and Nunzio Vena, Claude Hamel and Baillargeon. The son of Cantab Hall now has 12 career victories and earnings exceeding $125,000.
A $2 win ticket on Musical Rhythm returned $3.
Musical Rhythm
In the first division, Demand An Answer took full advantage of avoiding the round one winners. The Shane Arsenault trainee went gate-to-wire for driver Sylvain Filion in 1:56.2.
A four-year-old son of Angus Hall, Demand An Answer sprinted off the wings of the gate and by the opening-quarter in :26.2. The 4/5 favourite was too much handle for his opponents and cruised to a length and a half victory.
Five Below, who trotted along third for the majority of the mile, trotted by Love Hunter in the stretch to finish second. Fleet Bumblebee, who got away eighth, came on late and almost nabbed third away from Love Hunter.
Demand An Answer picked up his first win of 2016 with his career-best 1:56.2 mile Monday. The Arsenault trainee now has four career victories and earnings exceeding $62,000.
Demand An Answer paid $3.60 to win.
Demand An Answer
The $50,000 General Brock Final will take place next Monday (February 22).
Also on Monday, a field of six older trotters squared off in the $34,000 Preferred Trot.
A week after getting beat in the final stride, Fearless Man rebounded strongly for trainer/driver Rick Zeron. The six-year-old son of Elegant Man sprinted to the front and never looked back.
Fearless Man posted fractions of :27, :56 and 1:24.2 to lead the field into the stretch. Zeus Lightning came out from second to try and take down the leader, but the Zeron trainee held him off and trotted confidently through the wire in 1:53 for a half-length victory.
Windsun Revenge finished third, while Etruscan Hanover was fourth.
Fearless Man's clocking of 1:53 is the fastest trotting mile this season at Woodbine.
Owned by Rick Zeron Stables, Noblock Racing Stable, MurrayGreenfield and Cool Cat Racing Inc., Fearless Man now has two wins from five starts this year, 24 victories overall and career earnings of over $423,000.
Fearless Man paid $3.30 to win.
Fearless Man
Live racing resumes Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack. Post time for the 10-race card is 7:30 p.m.
Mark McKelvie