The $10,500 Preferred Handicap Trot capped off the Thursday (Sept. 22) evening card at Rideau Carleton Raceway and Black Tie Bash honoured his title as bettor’s choice.

Robert Shepherd and Black Tie Bash headed to the gate in the nightcap as the 8-5 favourite. When the starter said 'go,' the pair pulled off the car into sixth position as the rest of the field aimed to be the first to the top. Brady Bunch (Guy Gagnon) led the opening quarter in :28.2. Capteur De Reve (Stephane Brosseau) pulled first up, rushing to take the lead from Brady Bunch. Black Tie Bash sat 10 lengths off the leader going into a :57 half. Robert Shepherd pulled Black Tie Bash, getting cover from a surging 9-2 Crossfit (Jimmy Gagnon). The outer flow moved swiftly with Crossfit only a length off of the leader, Capteur De Reve, at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.2. Shepherd tipped Black Tie Bash out three-wide with only an eighth to go. At the top of the stretch, Black Tie Bash accelerated to win over Capteur De Reve by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3. Fit Bitt (Michel Lagace) was third.

Isabelle Darveau trains Black Tie Bash, who earned his 13th career victory and now has $124,383 in earnings. The victory upped his 2022 record to 7-3-3 in 19 starts, all within the Preferred Handicap class. Robert Shepherd owns the four-year-old gelding by Chapter Seven, out of the Kadabra mare Daylon Mermaid.

To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.