The five-year-old Muscle Mass mare Stormont Royalty vaulted by tiring rivals to take the $8,600 Preferred Trot narrowly at odds of 14-1 on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Precieuse Cc, sent at 86-1, charged from post 8 for the lead with Lmc Mass Gem sitting second and 1-5 favourite Undercover Strike wide in third through a :27.2 opening quarter. Undercover Strike gained no ground from first over moving to a :57.4 half but soon swept to the lead as Precieuse Cc gave way heading to three-quarters.
Past three-quarters in 1:27, Undercover Strike held command into the final turn while Stormont Royalty waited to make his move. Through the stretch Stormont Royalty recouped ground, lunging from seven lengths off the lead to race alongside the leader late in the mile before putting a head in front at the finish of a 1:57 mile. Pasadena Star stormed off cover for third.
Paying $31.70 to win, Stormont Royalty won her sixth race from 21 starts this season and her eighth from 61 overall, earning $163,042. Ryan Guy sat behind the Stormont Meadows homebred for trainer Kevin Benn.
Maracasso motored to a 1:53 victory to deliver as the 6-5 favourite in the $8,600 Preferred Pace.
Trainer-driver Carol Voyer cleared command with Maracasso from pylon-starter Take The Deal pacing to a :26.3 first quarter. From there the seven-year-old Lis Mara gelding endured little challenge, cruising through middle fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.3 in progress to a 1:53 win over Ufdragons Rocket closing from second over for place. Take The Deal held third.
Owned by Ecurie Alpha, Maracasso won his 12th race from 28 starts this season and his 21st from 99 overall, earning $95,103. He paid $4.40 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.