Rideau Carleton Raceway’s perennial leading driver Guy Gagnon landed in the winner’s circle of both the Preferred Pace and Preferred Trot with horses from his stable on Sunday (Nov. 21).
The Light Speed survived on the lead to keep a head in front at the beam and win the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace as the 2-5 choice.
Gagnon fired the three-year-old Moon Beam gelding for the front to a :27.3 first quarter and cruised to the half in :58.2. With the tempo slowing, National Debt charged off the pegs from sixth and rolled to press The Light Speed into the backside. The Light Speed quickened to three-quarters in 1:26 and edged slightly away from National Debt off the final turn, but National Debt cut his deficit through the stretch. Nonetheless, The Light Speed held firm to the finish of a 1:54.3 mile with Officer Jones closing for third and Vanilla Malted finished fourth.
A homebred for Michel Nolette, The Light Speed won his 12th race from 22 starts this season and his 14th from 33 overall, pushing his earnings to $93,409. He paid $2.80 to win.
Seeyou Men applied similar speed in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot, though this Gagnon trainee kicked away in the stretch to post a 1:57.4 victory.
Wide by a :28 first quarter, Seeyou Men cleared command from Jumpshot and rolled to the half in :58.4 as Gloire Dream angled first over out of third. Gloire Dream advanced on Seeyou Men up the backside, ranging to within a length of the lead by three-quarters in 1:27.3 before Seeyou Men rebuffed that challenger to the final turn. From there, Seeyou Men slid away to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Jumpshot with Crossfit taking third and Gloire Dream settling for fourth.
Owned by Catheline Pelletier and breeder Chantal Gravel, Seeyou Men won his seventh race from 24 starts this season and his 36th from 157 overall, pushing his earnings to $369,167. The nine-year-old Muscle Mass gelding paid $4.30 to win.
Sunday’s card also featured the seventh preliminary of the Coville Cup. Michael Armstrong scored in the first division with a wire-to-wire blowout by Montysgonemarble ($4.10), who bested Mike Healey and pocket-sitter Koloy DM by six lengths in a 1:56.2 mile. Barn One, in rein to Sebastien Turenne, took third and Darcy Clancy, driving Mistys Delight, finished fourth.
Jimmy Gagnon landed Big Petes Style in front at the line of the second Coville Cup split, besting Mike Healey and pacesetter St Lads Captain by a neck in a 1:56.2 mile. Aphro Star and driver Daniel Laflamme tracked cover from second over to take third and One For Julius, steered by Gordon Ley, took fourth.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.