Rideau Leaders Add To Win Totals
Gerard Demers and Louis-Philippe Roy, Rideau Carleton Raceway's leading trainer and driver of 2016, teamed up for a multiple-win night at the Ottawa oval that included a victory in the co-featured $6,800 Winners Over Handicap Trot.
Roy had 4-5 favourite Unabating ($3.90) on top by the quarter pole, reached in :28 flat, and never looked back through panels of :57.3 and 1:27.3 en route to the trotter's 30th career win in 1:57.4. Demers trains the eight-year-old Broadway Hall-Malabar Memories gelding, who has won 11 of his 25 starts this year, for owner Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel, Que. What A Rush (Brett MacDonald) came on for second over Maximus Deo (Richard Simard).
Demers and Roy joined forces for a total of four victories on the 13-race card, also scoring with Santana Sass ($5.90), All B Over ($7), and Kyles Secret ($5.30). Roy capped off his night driving a fifth winner on the program, Whats My Name ($9.50), for trainer/owner Gilbert Morin.
Roy tops the driver standings with 117 victories at Rideau so far in 2016, with Guy Gagnon trailing in second-place by 14 wins. Demers's stable has won 76 races this year at Rideau, giving him a 27-win lead over Sebastien Giroux in the trainer standings.
In the evening's $6,950 co-featured Winners Over Handicap Pace, Rock Fame pulled off a 10-1 upset, progressing from mid-pack to take the lead at the third quarter mark and drawing off by three and a half lengths for the victory in 1:55 flat. Richard Simard drove the five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Michelles Victory gelding, who now boasts back-to-back wins at Rideau, for owner/trainer Robert Bernicky of L'Ange-Gardien, Que. Ultimate Beachboy (Jacques Beaudoin) and Officially Rusty (Gord Brown) came on for second and third.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.