Rideau Carleton Raceway's top class co-features were decided by less than a length with trotter Imminent Response and pacer Poppys Bucky Boy each scoring upset victories in their respective Sunday assignments.
In the $6,500 Winners Over Handicap Trot, Imminent Response and driver Guy Gagnon went on the attack near the third-quarter mark, moving up from third to try to reel in the front-stepping (:28.2, :59.1, 1:27.4) mare Out Of The Hat. Imminent Response eventually wore down Out Of The Hat in deep stretch to win by half a length in 1:57.4. Ghirardelli Lindy came on for third, finishing a length behind.
Scratched due to injury in his last scheduled start a week ago and winless in 11 previous races this year, Imminent Response was overlooked by the betting public and sent postward at odds of 14-1. The nine-year-old gelding returned $31.30 to win. Favourite Intense America was unable to recover from an early break in stride, ending her Rideau win streak.
Nathalie Seguin trains the winning son of Oaklea Julian for owner Jean Francois Seguin, Gatineau, Que.
Poppys Bucky Boy also notched his first win of the campaign in the matching Winners Over pacing event for trainer/driver Stephane Pouliot.
Favourite House Of Terror took the lead at the :27.1 quarter mark and continued to front the field through a :56.4 half. However, Poppys Bucky Boy was on the move from fifth and poked a head in front down the backstretch before clearing House Of Terror at three-quarters in 1:25.2. He then began to open up two and a half lengths on top, but company was coming. Poppys Bucky Boy ultimately held off his late-closing rivals though, winning in 1:55.2 by half a length over D Gs Woodstock, Beach Runner A M and reigning champion Anderlecht in the four-across finish.
The winner returned $14.90 for the mild 6-1 upset in his sixth start of the season.
A six-year-old son of The Panderosa, Poppys Bucky Boy is owned by 9096 9205 Quebec Inc. of St Henri De Levis, Que.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.