It was a strong night of Preferred Handicap action at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Wednesday, May 14, with both a $10,000 trot and $10,000 pace featured on the card. Emma Town Bud took top honours in the trot, while The Light Speed delivered a track record-equalling performance — part of a training triple for Guy Gagnon.

In the Preferred Handicap Trot, a field of six lined up, with 4-5 favourite Emma Town Bud and driver/trainer Pierre Bovay wasting no time establishing control. After cutting the opening quarter in :27.4, they remained unchallenged to the half in :59.3. Tyrone Bow Tie (Ryan Guy) tried to mount a challenge from fifth down the backside, but no one could catch Emma Town Bud, who hit the three-quarter pole in 1:27.4 and continued to power home to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1, earning his first Rideau Preferred victory of the 2025 meet. Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) finished second off a pocket trip, while Rose Run Why Not (Pascal Berube) closed well for third.

Emma Town Bud, an eight-year-old gelded son of Big Stick Lindy-Centerfold Lady, is owned by Nicole Bovay Gurtner of Applehill, Ont. The trotter now has three wins this season and 24 career victories, with $30,946 in seasonal earnings and $379,007 lifetime.

In the Preferred pacing event, it was a battle of speed from the start. I Ama Rocket (Marie-Claude Auger) blasted off the gate, but The Light Speed, driven by Guy Gagnon, surged to the front and led through fast early fractions of :26.2 and :55. Early Action (Ryan Guy) mounted a first-over move from fourth on the backside, advancing to third, while I Ama Rocket stalked from the pocket. Despite the pressure, The Light Speed was still unchallenged through a 1:22.2 three-quarter mark, and dug in gamely to win by half a length in 1:50.3, a new lifetime mark and an equal of the track record for aged pacing geldings, a mark he now shares with Boulder Creek. Mythic Gambler (Robert Shepherd) rallied late for second and I Ama Rocket settled for third. A $2 win ticket returned $6.50.

A seven-year-old gelded son of Moon Beam-Jayma, The Light Speed is owned by Michel Nolette of Princeville, Que. The victory was his fourth Preferred-level win this season, boosting his 2025 earnings to $28,330 and career total to $461,789 from 64 lifetime wins.

The win with The Light Speed capped a training triple for Gagnon, who also scored earlier on the card with Carson Star Choice ($2.50) and Ciel Bleu ($3.40) — both horses he trains and drives. Gagnon now has 19 wins this season and 1,940 lifetime training victories. His seasonal earnings climbed to $136,552, with career earnings reaching $10,492,408. He currently ranks second on the Rideau trainer leaderboard.

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

(Standardbred Canada)