Conditioner Yves Tessier collected three victories on the 11-race card at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (Sept. 12), including a victory in the co-featured $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace with National Debt.

Assigned the outermost post of the quintet, National Debt dashed for the front and pocketed early leader Racemup to the quarter in :27 while keeping the speed hot to a :55.4 half. National Debt kept rolling up the backside with the field single file in behind him as he clicked three-quarters in 1:24.3 and strode to the finish to win in 1:52.3 by 1-1/4 lengths. Shadow Margeaux closed to finish second, with Barn One coming from last for third.

A 10-year-old stallion by Allamerican Native, National Debt won his ninth race from 16 starts this season and his 75th from 214 overall, earning $653,539. Pascal Berube drove the $2.40 winner for owner Francois Morin.

Tessier’s other two victories came early in the card. He scored a powerful coast-to-coast victory in the opener with Journalistic ($2.80) and completed his hat trick in the race following National Debt’s win when Sports Jacket ($11.90) kicked off cover to grab and then hold the lead by a head at the finish.

Ripped And Ready ranged first over and took over the lead while withstanding a late challenge from Crossfit to take the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot in 1:56 and give driver Pascal Berube a sweep of the features.

Severus Hanover set the tempo to a :27.2 first quarter and :56.3 half while Ripped And Ready raced fourth. Berube pulled the four-year-old Muscle Mass stallion off the pegs rounding the second turn and rolled towards the tempo setter, putting a length in front at three-quarters in 1:26. Crossfit caught Ripped And Ready’s cover to the final turn before being left first over for the stretch drive, and he nonetheless ground closer towards the new leader. Ripped And Ready fought back to the inside and held his ground just enough to keep a head in front by the beam while odds-on favourite Frido PV gave chase in third.

Owned by Dr. Ruth D. Irving, Ripped And Ready won his second race from eight starts this season and his ninth from 29 overall, earning $128,737. Thierry Vandenplas trains the $4.30 winner.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.