Rjs Superfeak shocked the Rideau Carleton Raceway public with an upset victory as the longest shot on the board in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace on Sunday, June 15.

He flashed early speed from post one for Marie-Claude Auger and led into the first turn, parking out Light The Torch (Pascal Berube), who failed to clear as they raced past the quarter in :27.2. Light The Torch remained hung out through the half in :56.2 and down the backstretch, and he began to fatigue approaching three-quarters in 1:24.

With Light The Torch out of the picture, Sports Activator (Ryan Guy) swung out of the pocket to take his shot on the final turn. He grinded away at the leader down the stretch, but Rjs Superfreak held him off for the victory and a new lifetime mark of 1:52. Sports Activator finished second with Early Action (Guy Gagnon) taking show. The winner, off at odds of 15-1, returned $32.40.

Rjs Superfreak reached the six-digit money plateau, increasing his earnings to $100,075 with his 14th lifetime win in 66 starts. The five-year-old Luck Be Withyou-Promised Place gelding is three-for-11 this season for trainer Eric Lafleur, who co-owns him with fellow L’Ange Garden, Que. resident Michel Blais. 

Leading driver Gagnon added five wins to his total on the night. He kicked off the 11-race card with a wire-to-wire victory behind Bettors Zone ($4.90), doubled in the third with Wildcat Lisa ($4.80), and made it three with Wicked Move ($3.40) in Race 5. He then scored with two horses from his own barn, I Ama Rocket ($2.10) in the eighth and Dylans Bank ($3) in the penultimate dash, to improve his tally to five. The reinsman has racked up 71 wins this season at the Ottawa-area oval, giving him a lead of 35 over Robert Shepherd in second.

Mandy Archer, the track’s top trainer, also added to her cushion in the standings with a three-win performance. After combining with Gagnon to win with Wildcat Lisa and Wicked Move, Mae Lose Control ($5) made it two victories in two starts for the trainer in the finale to complete the triple. Archer, with 42 wins at Rideau Carleton this season, is now 17 ahead of Gagnon in the trainers’ standings.

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

(Standardbred Canada)