Rideau Carleton Raceway kicked off its 2022 season on Sunday (Feb. 13) with a 12-race card that saw three different trainers score hat tricks on the program.

The Ottawa oval’s perennial leading trainer Guy Gagnon was one who landed three victories on the evening, including a 1:58.3 victory in the $10,500 Preferred Trot by Seeyou Men.

Wide around the first turn, Seeyou Men settled into third as pylon-starter LMC Mass Gem pushed for the lead to the quarter in :28.2. Titans Dream soon grabbed the lead passing the stands and took the field by the half in :59.1. But trainer-driver Guy Gagnon soon came calling with Seeyou Men out of third, and the 10-year-old Muscle Mass gelding swept to the front before three-quarters in 1:28.4 and faced pressure around the final turn from Raising Rusty, who tracked the leader’s move. Raising Rusty continued to grind into Seeyou Men through the stretch, but the veteran held firm enough to keep a nose ahead at the line. Crossfit, the odds-on favourite, finished third and The Magic Of Life took fourth.

Owned by Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel, Seeyou Men won his 37th race from 163 starts, pushing his earnings to $378,253. He paid $4.70 to win.

Seeyou Men’s win came sandwiched in Gagnon’s hat trick. He won earlier in the card with Matts Tuition ($3.10) and scored in the penultimate race with Undercover Strike ($5.50).

Trainers John MacMillan and Mandy Archer also landed hat tricks. MacMillan’s three wins came with Montysgonemarble ($4), Vanilla Malted ($3.40) and Dylans Bank ($5.90) while Archer’s came with Sauble Delightful ($2.70), R Bazingga ($2.70) and Four Finger Floyd ($2.50).

Outkast Blue Chip won the finale of the Sunday card, the co-featured $10,500 Preferred Pace, as the odds-on choice in 1:58.

Driver Robert Shepherd sat third with the eight-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding while National Sport snagged command to a :29.3 first quarter. Shepherd got rolling with Outkast Blue Chip moving to a 1:00.3 half and ranged to match strides with the pacesetter by three-quarters in 1:29. The two continued to race side by side coming for home before the Isabelle Darveau trainee powered through and edged 1-1/2 lengths in front of pocket-rocket Hes Got A Vendetta at the finish. National Sport settled for third and The Regulator, going a second-over trip, took fourth.

Owned by Shepherd, Outkast Blue Chip won his 31st race from 166 starts, lifting his earnings to $370,954. He paid $3.30 to win.

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