Driver Guy Gagnon stole the show on Sunday night at Rideau Carleton Raceway, dominating the 12-dash season opener with seven wins between races two and nine.
The Gatineau, Que. horseman earned three wins with his own trainees Keeping Optimistic ($11.80), Xexy ($5.10) and Ivanhoe Diamant ($27.30).
Gagnon teamed up with trainer Ronald MacDonald for a pair of victories aboard Sauble Liz ($12.10) and Lucky Taryn ($7.80). He also scored with Ronald McPhee trainee Rainbow Lilly ($6.30) and Zambuca Gass ($5.60) for conditioner Stephen Gassien.
With 141 wins at the Ottawa oval last season, Gagnon ranked second on the local leaderboard behind Denis St. Pierre (160).
Sunday's featured $6,400 Winners Over Handicap Pace was won by favourite Savannah Splendor ($3.30), who front-stepped his way to a three length victory in 1:58.3 over the snowy track with Gord Brown aboard for trainer Randy Van Meer and owners Donna Van Meer and Brian Evans of Bowmanville, Ont.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.