JJ Xavier flashed early and late speed but it was not enough to contend with The Light Speed, who prevailed in the weekly $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon, delivering as the 3-5 favourite in the Sunday, Sept. 7 edition. 

After causing a short delay to the start of the race for a shoe repair, the fleet-footed JJ Xavier (Mike Healey) fired to command from the inside with the popular outside assignee, The Light Speed, strung out as he worked to clear through a :26.3 opener. Once he did, The Light Speed controlled mid-panels of :55.4 and 1:24.4 before a persistent JJ Xavier shot through at the pylons down the lane and came close. But in the end, The Light Speed held off his game rival in a head decision, winning in 1:52.3.

Stonebridge Hermes (Ryan Guy) got the jump on Logan Behold (Robert Shepherd) moving first-up down the backstretch and forcing him three-high, but it was last week's upset winner, Shotgun Jerry (Stephane Pouliot), from behind that duo who nabbed the show dough after getting clearance through the stretch.

Winning for the ninth time from 24 starts in his seven-year-old campaign, The Light Speed returned $3.50 to his backers at the betting windows after settling for runner-up honours the last three weeks. Owned by Michel Nolette of Princeville, Que., the homebred Moon Beam-Jayma gelding now boasts 69 career wins and earnings totalling $509,689.    

The Sunday feature winner was one of three successful starters on the 10-race card trained by Gagnon, along with Wall Street Bell ($3), who won his third straight in 1:54.1 off a claim, and I Ama Rocket ($2.10), who dropped out of Rideau's Preferred class for a dominant victory in 1:52 flat. The Gatineau, Que. horseman also drove Foxhunt ($2.50) to a victory for trainer Jacob Copley.

Mandy Archer matched Gagnon for top training honours on the night with Prince Edward Island invader Jack Wick ($3.90) taking a new lifetime mark of 1:54, Early Action ($3.40) scoring in 1:51.2 and Rideau newcomer Allstar Playboy ($2.70) romping in a career-best 1:53.1 off a claim -- all driven by Robert Shepherd. 

Archer currently leads all trainers at Rideau in 2025 with 73 wins while Gagnon sits second with 49 but leads the driver standings with 124 sulky successes.

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

(Standardbred Canada)