Hp Lis Shadow got a much nicer trip than his parked-out journey a week ago and capitalized on it to defeat the top pacers at Rideau Carleton Raceway again in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Driver Robert Shepherd called for an early dash from the gelding from post three to outspeed Major Fernco N (Pascal Berube) and land in the pocket behind The Light Speed (Guy Gagnon). Once settled, the field of five remained single-file through :26.1 and :55.3 fractions with The Light Speed leading the way. I Ama Rocket (Marie-Claude Auger) launched from fifth nearing three-quarters in 1:23.3, prompting a pocket pop from Hp Lis Shadow on the final turn to kick off the sprint for home. The Light Speed was game all the way to the line but could not hold off Hp Lis Shadow, who got up by a half-length on the strength of a :27.2 final quarter to win in 1:51.1. Major Fernco N finished four lengths back of the winner in third.
Hp Lis Shadow won the Preferred for the second time in three weeks, rebounding from a fourth-place finish when parked the mile last time. Jacob Copley trains the six-year-old son of Shadow Play-Lisbella, who is seven-for-26 this season. The gelding, owned by Imagine Stable of L’Ange-Gardien, Que., improved to 25-for-188 overall and has now earned $276,577. He paid $12.90 to win.
Wall Street Bell ($2.50) stayed hot in the claiming ranks, winning the evening's sixth race for his seventh straight tally. The gelding took control off the start, paced :27, :57, and 1:25 fractions, and rebuffed More Monet (William Roy) in the stretch to score by a length in 1:54.2. Saskabush Steve (Berube) was third. Guy Gagnon drives and trains the winner, a five-year-old son of Shadow Play-Bell Bottom Pans. The gelding, who is now 16-for-96 lifetime, is owned by Gatineau, Que.-based connections Ecuries Guy Gagnon Inc. and Seth McLeod.
Leading trainer Mandy Archer swept the opening three races of the 11-dash program. She took the opener with Allstar Playboy ($3.30) and the second with Bettor B Home Soon ($8), both driven by Gagnon, then completed the triple as Shepherd piloted Jack Wick ($3) to victory in the third. Archer has now tallied 97 victories this season in 296 starts for a win rate of 32.8 per cent. She leads Gagnon by 33 wins in the Rideau trainers’ standings.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)