Georgian Downs: Imextraspecial, HP Mama B score in Gold Series

Imextraspecial and HP Mama B sprinted around Georgian Downs on Saturday, July 17 to claim the winner's share of C$101,400 in their respective 3-year-old trotting filly Gold Series divisions.

Imextraspecial opened Saturday's program with a stalking trip behind pace-setter Dashing Muscle. Starting from post three, driver Trevor Henry tucked the favorite in behind Dashing Muscle as that filly led the field of eight through fractions of 27 1/5, 56 4/5, and 1:25 3/5, and then tipped out of the pocket and powered down the stretch to a 1:55 victory. Dashing Muscle settled for second, one length behind Imextraspecial, and You Will Be Queen was 4 3/4 lengths back in third.

Paul Walker trains Imextraspecial for owner Keith Coulter, and Walker said the Muscle Mass filly looks ready to battle in the Gold Series again this season.

"She had a good winter. She trained well all winter. She put one bad race in when we brought her back, but everything else has been pretty good with her," said Walker. "It's going to be a little tougher this year for sure. It depends how you draw and stuff, but if she stays like she is she'll be right there digging."

Last season Imextraspecial won two Grassroots and three Gold Series starts for earnings of C$223,128. Saturday's victory improved the filly's sophomore Ontario Sires Stakes record to one win and one second for earnings of C$81,750.

"She's got a great stride on her when she races and she tries, even the last Gold there she couldn't beat that mare of Ben's (Baillargeon), but she kept trying. She won't give up," said Walker of Imextraspecial's runner-up finish to HP Mama B in the July 1 Gold Series season opener at Woodbine Mohawk Park. "We're just fortunate that she's come back pretty good. Hopefully we can keep her that way. As I say, she's not going to win them all, but she'll be digging for it anyway."

None of the fillies in Saturday's second C$101,400 Gold divisions could catch HP Mama B either. Driver Sylvain Filion fired the favorite out of post three, and HP Mama B hit the quarter in 27 3/5 before dialing the tempo back on her way to a 57 3/5 half. Comfortably in front at the 1:26 three-quarters, Filion opened the filly up around the final turn and she was able to coast home a two length winner in 1:54 3/5, just one-fifth of a second shy of the 3-year-old trotting filly track record. Meadowview Lilly and Up And Ready closed well to be second and third, but could not catch HP Mama B.

"The mare is very good right now. She's strong, she can leave pretty good, and she gets it her own way right now," said trainer Ben Baillargeon. "One of these days somebody will try her, like try to park her or something, but right now she's tough. She goes to the front and gets little breather, and the race is over. One of these days she won't get a breather, and we'll see how really good she is, but right now we're very happy."

Baillargeon trains HP Mama B for his wife, Guylaine Picard, and their family friend Celine Paquin. The Royalty For Life filly is two-for-two in Gold Series action and also had a win in overnight action on June 18, giving her sophomore earnings of C$114,200. As a 2-year-old HP Mama B won two Grassroots Legs, her Semi-Final and the Grassroots Championships for earnings of C$76,087.

"I am just hoping it keeps going. The more it keeps going, the better it is for me," said Baillargeon. "She's strong, she takes good care of herself, and she likes what she's doing. She's a good eater, a big horse, and hopefully stays like that."

The 3-year-old trotting fillies will have their next opportunity to reel in HP Mama B in the third Gold Series Leg on Aug. 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--