The revival of the Coville Cup began on Sunday (Oct. 10) at Rideau Carleton Raceway with two races for the first of the 10-week driver’s contest.
Daniel St. Pierre won the first dash of the Coville Cup with Brookletsjustified in a 1:55.4 mile. He secured cover to the half before circling by the first-over and faltering Jon Snow up the backstretch and ground into odds-on favourite and pacesetter Lucky Leonard. Off the turn, Brookletsjustified scooted clear to a two-length win over Benoit Hebert and Twin B Laker in second. Michael Healey and Officially Rusty finished third and Anne Marie Turenne took fourth with Uno Cinucenta.
William Roy came from off the speed with State News to deliver as the odds-on choice in the second split of the Coville Cup. Roy ranged out of fifth with his charge and managed to tuck to the pylons to save ground into the final turn. State News then tipped by pacesetter Bobbies Power Play and put him away through the stretch to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Fern Hill Flight and Andrew Moore finished second with Philippe Trudeau and Tico Time taking third and Bobbie Power Play with Bernard Lavigne finishing fourth.
Hitman Hill hustled off a helmet in the $9,200 Ross Curran Memorial, which honoured late horseman Ross Curran, to win as the 4-5 favourite in 1:52.1.
The six-year-old American Ideal gelding sat sixth off a first-turn skirmish with a three-wide battle to the lead through a :26 first quarter. Stonebridge Beach emerged on top by the stands first time while Ashleysbest was stuck uncovered and Histoire Enchantee faded through the field towards a :54.1 half.
With the two wide battlers tiring from the mix, Stonebridge Beach faced pressure up the backstretch from The Light Speed to three-quarters in 1:22.2. Driver Pascal Berube positioned Hitman Hill third over to the final turn and fired off cover coming into the stretch, reeling in late leader The Light Speed to win by a half length. The Regulator finished third and Racemup took fourth.
Owned by Kevin Harvey, Anthony Stymest, Rudge Racing and Ken Hardie, Hitman Hill won his fourth race from 18 starts this season and his 23rd from 82 overall, earning $530,407. Anne Marie Turenne trains the $3.70 winner.
Capteur De Reve rolled to a facile win in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot in 1:55. The seven-year-old Muscle Mass gelding grabbed the lead to a :27.4 first quarter and faced little challenge through middle fractions of :56.4 and 1:26. Off the turn, he cruised to a 1-1/4-length win over 2-5 favourite Crossfit. Gloire Dream finished third and Raising Rusty took fourth.
Trained by Maxime Velaye for owner-breeder Ecurie Provoquante, Capteur De Reve won his seventh race from 12 starts this season and his 32nd from 88 overall, earning $315,727. Steeven Genois drove the $16 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.