As live harness racing resumed at Rideau Carleton Raceway for the first time in 2016 on a snowy Sunday, Jan 17, Four Starz Speed stole the spotlight with his late-mile heroics in the featured $6,950 Winners Over Handicap Trot.

Following last Sunday's cancellation, a full 14-race program was held with the feature event presented as the ninth race over the snow-covered track.

Creampuff Macdaddy forged to the front through a contested :28 opening quarter and led the nine-horse field through middle fractions :58.1 and 1:27.3 with 9-5 favourite Uncle Freddie advancing first over and Unabating rallying three-wide from the outer flow down the backstretch. Meanwhile, Four Starz Speed and driver Pierre Desjardins followed in fifth-place, second over and closed late out widest of all to collar Creampuff Macdaddy in 1:58.4 in a blanket finish. Undercover Bro finished less than a length behind in third off a pocket trip while Uncle Freddie edged out Unabating for fourth-place.

Four Starz Speed paid $12.90 to win as 5-1 fourth betting choice on the toteboard.

The 11-year-old Conway Hall gelding is owned by trainer Sebastien Giroux of L'Ange-Gardien, Que., Richard Dinelle of Limoges, Ont., and Michel Lagace of Terrebonne, Que. In winning his 2016 debut, Four Starz Speed now has 33 career victories and earnings over $740,000.

The Matthew McDonald stable kicked off the 2016 season on a winning note with a training triple on the program. Louis-Philippe Roy teamed up with McDonald for a pair of those wins and added one more victory to his credentials to end the night with a triple. Rideau's 2015 leading reinsman Guy Gagnon went two-for-two with starters from his own stable while driver Brett MacDonald and trainer Jamie Copley joined forces for two wins as well.

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