Black Tie Bash made his 2023 debut a winning one with Robert Shepherd in the bike for the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday evening (May 25).

Shepherd and Black Tie Bash got away seventh, 9-1/2 lengths off the leader as they passed the quarter in :28.1. Black Tie Bash made an advance on the outside through the half in :57.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.2, chipping away at the distance between himself and the leader. Around the final turn, he had taken over and cruised down the stretch to win by a length in 1:55. Donatover (Stephane Brosseau) finished second and Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) was third.

Black Tie Bash is a five-year-old gelded son of Chapter Seven and the Kadabra mare Daylon Mermaid. Isabelle Darveau trains the winner of 19 career races and $161,408 for owner Robert Shepherd.

Mandy Archer trained four winners on the 10-race card with Getyourlicenseliam ($5.20), Thinkingofyoubabe ($4.10), Sunshine Sally ($3.90) and Gettin Messi ($3.80), each driven by Guy Gagnon,

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