Conditioner Victor Puddy sent four winners to the track at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (Oct. 24), including the victor of the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Marie Claude Auger drove Puddy trainee Crossfit to a coast-to-coast victory in the trotting feature, stopping the clock in 1:55.2. The five-year-old Donato Hanover gelding had fractions his own way to a :28 quarter and a :57.2 half before encountering first-over pressure from Ripped And Ready to three-quarters in 1:26.2. Ripped And Ready ranged closer to Crossfit through the final turn and down the lane, but the even-money favourite staved that rival off by a length to the beam. Gloire Dream gave chase from the pocket to finish third and Seeyou Men finished fourth.
Owned by Gordon Mc Donald and Christopher Boland, Crossfit won his sixth race from 26 starts this season and his 18th from 76 overall, earning $199,316. He paid $4 to win.
Puddy’s other winners came earlier in the card starting with a win by Racemup ($19.80) in the evening’s third race. He later collected back-to-back victories when Officer Jones ($9.50) crossed the line first and then Dellas Boy ($6.40) took the race following, which was the first of two dashes for the Coville Cup third preliminary.
Daniel LaFlamme piloted the Puddy trainee to a pocket ride behind pacesetter Sports Bliss and driver Gordon Ley, who endured first-over pressure from Tico Time and Jimmy Gagnon through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:27. LaFlamme fed Dellas Boy racetrack in the straightaway to down Sports Bliss by a length in 1:57.4 while Fern Hill Flight and driver Benoit Hebert grabbed third from Tico Time in fourth.
The other split of the Coville Cup was won by Darcy Clancy, who piloted Woo Shark to a 1:56.2 off-the-pace victory. Clancy positioned the Michael Armstrong trainee second over after a :28.2 first quarter and gained ground into a :58.1 half. Mossies Art meanwhile set the tempo in rein to Daniel St Pierre, but came under heat from first-over Alwaysyourway to three-quarters in 1:26.4. Around the final turn, Mossies Art turned away Alwaysyourway as Clancy tipped Woo Shark three high for the stretch drive. He swept to the lead off the corner and strolled to a 1-1/4-length win over pocket-sitter Print Media and William Roy in second. Mossies Art finished third and Lunar Launch with driver Brian Scott finished fourth.
Sunday’s card finished with the co-featured event on the evening, a $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace which again went to The Light Speed, this time in a tight 1:51.4 finish.
Away fourth to a :26 first quarter, The Light Speed made his move for the front as pacesetter Hitman Hill slowed the tempo to a :55 half before coming to a stop in the backstretch. The Light Speed swept to a two-length lead with National Debt following suit moving to three-quarters in 1:23.1 and continually gaining on the leader coming for home. His lead shrunk through the lane, however The Light Speed kept a nose in front by the beam to deliver as the 8-5 favourite. D Gs De Vito finished third and Stonebridge Beach took fourth.
Bred and owned by Michel Nolette, The Light Speed won his 11th race from 18 starts this season and his 13th from 29 overall, earning $83,473. Guy Gagnon trains and drove the Moon Beam gelding who paid $5.30 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.