Off as the second-longest shot on the board, Hp Patriote upset at 18-1 to win the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, March 17.
The six-year-old Vintage Master gelding sat fifth as Ufdragons Rocket held an uncontested lead through fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:26. Driver Jonathan Lachance edged first over with the Gerard Demers trainee nearing three-quarters and drew within a neck of the lead at the head of the lane. Hp Patriote overtook the faltering pacesetter as odds-on favourite National Debt dashed off cover late in the lane, but finished one-and-three-quarter lengths shy of victory in 1:54.3. Pocket-sitter The Roadies finished third.
Owned by Les Ecuries GLD Inc. and Claude Hamel, Hp Patriote won his 28th race from 109 starts, earning $161,493. He paid $38.10 to win.
Favourite Slip Into Glide repeated in the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Trot earlier on the card, coming from off the pace to win in 1:56.3.
Driver Pascal Berube floated toward the rear of the field with the David Robson trainee while Rose Run Speedster led Lmc Mass Gem, who sat wide through a :27.3 first quarter. Lmc Mass Gem soon cleared the lead while Pasadena Star, tracking his cover, soon brushed to control nearing a :57 half.
Slip Into Glide gradually advanced towards the front moving to the backstretch but caught dull cover from The Back Nine, forcing Berube to shift three wide heading to a 1:26.2 third quarter. The 11-year-old Yankee Glide gelding swooped past Pasadena Star into the stretch and held off Flying Isa N rallying off cover late by one-and-three-quarter lengths at the wire. Pasadena Star faded to third.
Winning his 40th race from 187 starts, Slip Into Glide has earned $712,043. The $5.00 winner competes for owner Courtney Robson.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.