Off as the longest shot on the board at 12-1, Ghirardelli Lindy slid past fading pacesetter Talbotcreek Suzie and pocket-sitter Raising Richard to win the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 18.
Positioned third, the Robert Dube-trained gelding sat third as Talbotcreek Suzie set an uncontested tempo of :28.1, :58 and 1:26.2. Raising Richard pulled pocket and overtook the leader into the lane but could not endure the late-stretch surge of Richard Simard and Ghirardelli Lindy at the wire to finish a half-length back in second. Talbotcreek Suzie held third.
Returning $26.40 to win, Ghirardelli Lindy won his seventh race from 31 starts this season and his 36th in 213 overall, earning $220,725. The nine-year-old by Chocolatier competes for owner Saul Mendelson.
Vegas Rocks commandeered his competition and posted a 1:55 victory in the co-featured $8,100 Preferred Handicap Pace. Also driven by Richard Simard, the Jamie Copley trainee paced wide of leader Silverado through a :29.1 opening quarter before clearing control.
From there, the six-year-old gelding by Rocknroll Hanover faced little pressure as he paced a :58.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:26.4. Pocket-sitter Silverado challenged for the lead in the stretch but settled for second a half-length behind while Doctor Royal closed for third.
Owned by Copley Stables, Jody Sanderson and Dean Larkin, Vegas Rocks won his second race from eight starts this season and his 23rd from 110 overall, earning $265,727. He paid $7.10 to win.
Trainer Yves Tessier scored a hat trick on the 15-race program when winning with Macktwowilldew ($4.00) in a $6,500 conditioned pace going 1:55.2 as well as with Mister Big Top ($4.20) in a $6,000 pace going 1:55.4 and with Santanna Tony closing to a 1:55.1 victory in a $5,500 conditioned claiming pace.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.