Three-year-old pacing gelding Getyourlicenseliam prevailed by a neck in the Thursday night (Nov. 18) finale at Rideau Carleton Raceway to push his win streak to eight.
Completing a training double on the 11-race card for Mandy Archer, 8-5 favourite Getyourlicenseliam ($4.10) and driver Guy Gagnon left alongside Sir A (Stephane Brosseau) and cleared at the quarter pole before holding off that rival in the passing lane at the end of the 1:56.3 mile over a 'good' track to keep his streak alive. Favaro Seelster (Samuel Fillion) finished 3-3/4 lengths behind in third.
After going winless through his first eight races, the Control The Moment-Miss Poole son found his groove and began his streak in mid-September, winning eight in a row for owners Jamie Copley and Mark Smith. He's earned $27,380 through 16 career starts.
In other action, half-siblings Battle With Desire and Thrilling Times each visited the Rideau winner's circle on Thursday -- the former pulling off a 20-1 upset in a three-across finish and the latter delivered on the lead as the 1-5 favourite.
Battle With Desire, a four-year-old Thinking Out Loud mare, prevailed by a neck in 2:00.1 for her fifth career win in the fourth race with Robbie Robinson in the bike for trainer William Douglas and owner Susan Roy. Three races later, Pascal Berube steered her older Mach Three brother Thrilling Times to a 4-1/4-length victory in 1:55.3 for trainer Karen Kroeger, who also co-owns and bred the 10-time winner with Gilles Plourde.
The siblings are out of the Astreos mare Thrillionaire, who set an Autumn Stakes record of 1:51.2 in 2009 at Mohawk Racetrack and earned $136,459 in purses lifetime.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.