The Sunday, October 18 card at Rideau Carleton Raceway featured three $12,000 divisions for the second preliminary of the Brian Jerome Memorial Fall Claiming Series.
Mister Godro motored off a pylon trip to deliver as the 6-5 favourite in the opening division of the Jerome Memorial. The seven-year-old Mister Big gelding sat third while Too Much Duncan posted fractions of :26.4, :56.2 and 1:24.4. Pocket-sitter Sin City Shark popped wide for the stretch drive while Carwins Smore stalled first over, giving room for Mister Godro to dart through the inside and hit the finish a half length better than Alwaysyourway closing for second with Sin City Shark taking third. Trainer-driver Stephane Pouliot steered the $4.40 winner for owner 9096 9205 Quebec Inc. and Pierre Mineault, who lost their horse via claim to Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire.
Twin B Fearless took command and held command to score in the second division of the Jerome Memorial. Leaving from the pylon post, Twin B Fearless fought 7-5 choice Barn One for the lead by a :27.1 opening quarter and kept that rival parked to a :56.3 half. Barn One grew leg weary up the backside while Twin B Fearless scooted to a two-length advantage approaching three-quarters in 1:25.3. Through the stretch SOS Justified closed through the open stretch to slim Twin B Fearless’ lead, but settled for second by three-quarter lengths in a 1:56.2 mile. Charles Gaudreault owns the victorious four-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, but will hand ownership of the $9.00 winner to claimant Matthew McDonald.
Genesee jetted to an 18-1 upset in a sprint to the finish of the final Jerome Memorial split. Away sixth to a :26.3 first quarter, driver Tyler Jones angled Genesee two wide as Thundering Jim bore into pacesetter Dabunka toward a :56 half. Up the backstretch Dabunka and Thundering Jim faltered, forcing favourite Reys N A Rocket along with Genesee to circumvent the tiring duelers. Reys N A Rocket emerged on the lead into the stretch, but Genesee took aim at the late leader heading for the finish and edged to a three-quarter length victory in a 1:53.1 mile—the top two finishing 14 lengths clear of their nearest competitor. Anne Turenne conditions the 11-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, who paid $39.10 to win, for owners Matthew McDonald, Peter Kircher and Kirk Robillard.
National Debt overcame a parked trip to take the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace. Driver Pascal Berube floated the nine-year-old Allamerican Native stallion from post 7 to a :26.4 first quarter and made steady progress towards pacesetter Vegas Rocks approaching a :57 half. National Debt drew to equal terms with Vegas Rocks by three-quarters in 1:25.1 and slid past that rival into the stretch, holding onto victory by a length over pocket-rocket Vanilla Malted. Vegas Rocks held third.
Owned by Francois Morin, National Debt won his eighth race from 22 starts this season and his 62nd from 190 overall, earning $582,879. Yves Tessier trains the $8.20 winner.
The La Framboise boys scored a “Threepeat” in the in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot with Lestenpercent. With three early breakers, Lestenpercent landed last of the four left trotting. Y C Broadway led the field through splits of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:26.4 before facing a far-turn challenge from Seeyou Men while Lestenpercent ranged three wide to give pursuit and eventually claim the lead. Into the stretch the five-year-old Justice Hall gelding strolled clear, stopping the clock in 1:56.2 five-and-three-quarter lengths in front of Seeyou Men in second. Its Huw You Know sat a pocket trip to take third.
Owned and trained by Paul La Framboise, Lestenpercent won his 10th race from 18 starts this season and his 18th from 68 overall, earning $89,869. Rod La Framboise drove the $2.50 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.