Acapulco Sunburn converted a pocket-trip into a victory in the $10,000 Preferred Pace on Sunday, Oct. 13 at Rideau Carleton. Meanwhile, leading trainer Mandy Archer conditioned three winners on the 10-race card.
The Preferred was the ninth race on the evening, where Acapulco Sunburn was sent away as the 2-1 favourite from post two with Robert Shepherd driving for trainer Isabelle Darveau.
Shepherd got Acapulco Sunburn away in good order, landing the pocket seat behind a fired up Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) who led the field of seven to the quarter in :26.3. Aladdin got a second-quarter breather, reaching the half in :56.4 before I Ama Rocket (Guy Gagnon) started the outer-flow from fourth. I Ama Rocket surged alongside Aladdin on the backstretch, going nose-to-nose with the leader at three-quarters in 1:25 as Acapulco Sunburn stalked from behind the dueling leaders.
The leaders continued to trade blows on the final turn, still matching strides turning for home when Acapulco Sunburn joined the fray, diving for the passing lane. Scampering up the cones in :28.3, Acapulco Sunburn reached the wire first in 1:53.4 by three parts of a length. Skylar (Jimmy Gagnon) rallied late for place, I Ama Rocket held for third.
The victory was the second-straight and fourth of the season for Acapulco Sunburn. Owned by Les Ecuries Bcl and Bruce Tremblay, the five-year-old gelded son of Big Jim-Twelve Apostles has banked $230,398 for his career.
Shepherd scored one of the three victories on the night for trainer Mandy Archer as well, getting the job done with Irresistible ($2.50, 1:54.4) as the bettors' choice in the evening's fourth race.
Archer teamed up with leading driver Guy Gagnon for the two remaining victories, the first of which came with Scandia Hannibal ($2.10, 1:57.3) who stayed perfect through three starts in his two-year-old campaign, before the duo scored with Fear The Shadow ($17.70, 1:56.4) in the eighth race.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)