A pylon trip paid big bucks for Stormont Royalty as the five-year-old Muscle Mass mare snagged victory in the $8,600 Preferred Handicap Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 17.
The Kevin Benn trainee sat third while odds-on favourite Seeyou Men cut the mile. He led through fractions of :28.3, :58.3 and 1:27.2 while enduring a minor first-over challenge from Lmc Mass Gem, who then stalled circling the final turn. Precieuse Cc gave pursuit through the stretch off a pocket trip while Stormont Royalty revved from the three hole past the pacesetter to win by a half length in 1:56.4.
Returning $25.20 to win, Stormont Royalty won her fifth race from 20 starts this season and her seventh from 60 overall, earning $158,742. Ryan Guy sat behind the homebred for Stormont Meadows.
Ufdragons Rocket ripped wide to nail his cover at the finish and take the $8,600 Preferred Handicap Pace.
Driver Pascal Berube positioned Ufdragons Rocket fifth while Atomic Million Am paced to the first quarter in :26.3. Race-favourite Saulsbrook Peach soon circled to the lead tracked by Maracasso, who then raced uncovered towards a :56.3 half.
Berube sat second over with the Yves Tessier trainee heading to three-quarters. Timed in 1:25, Maracasso took a narrow lead from Saulsbrook Peach and began to edge away turning for the finish. But Berube uncorked Ufdragons Rocket and zipped past late in the stretch to get a neck up and stop the clock in 1:54.1. Silverado, racing third over, took third.
A 10-year-old gelding by Dragon Again, Ufdragons Rocket won his sixth race from 31 starts this season and his 61st from 292 overall, earning $470,164. Francois Morin owns the $9.60 winner.
Berube also reached a significant personal milestone with the victory, which was the 2,500th driving win of his career.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.