Four Starz Speed just held off Michelangelo for another narrow victory in the $6,800 Winners Over Handicap Trot on Sunday, Jan. 24 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Four Starz Speed, the 2-1 race favourite, left from post six and moved into third position off the gate while Michelangelo worked past Undercover Bro through a contested :28.2 opening panel. Driver Pierre Desjardins then made his move with Four Starz Speed and overtook the early leavers in front of the grandstand. Four Starz Speed led the field of eight through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29.3 before holding of his pocket-pursuer through the final quarter of the mile for the 1:59.2 triumph. The final margin was just a neck as Four Starz Speed notched his second consecutive victory after last week pinning a head defeat on Creampuff Macdaddy, an early breaker out of contention in tonight's co-featured event. Undercover Bro earned third-place honours again this week.
Four Starz Speed races from the Sebastien Giroux stable and is now two-for-two to kick off his 11-year-old campaign. Giroux also shares ownership of the Conway Hall gelding with Richard Dinelle of Limoges, Ont. and Michel Lagace of Terrebonne, Que. A former two-time Maple Leaf Trot starter, Four Starz Speed has accumulated 34 career wins and earnings totalling $744,089.
Woodbine invader Southwind Amazon later scored a front-end victory in the co-featured $6,950 Winners Over Handicap Pace on the Sunday card of harness racing in Ottawa.
Firing from post five, Southwind Amazon worked clear of Web Cam at the 27-second first quarter mark to secure the leading role and kept first over challenger Racing For Space at bay through a half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.1. Addison Bay offered up a late attack down the stretch, but came up half a length short as Southwind Amazon persevered for the 1:55.1 victory. Racing For Space faded to third.
The six-year-old Camluck gelding, who was a winner in two of his three Rideau starts last fall, was the 9-5 favourite and was driven by Clarke Steacy for trainer Luc Loyer and owner Fabian Vata of Kanata, Ont. Southwind Amazon now boasts 18 career wins and $241,808 in purse earnings.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.