Favourites failed to deliver in Sunday’s co-features at Rideau Carleton Raceway thanks to a pair of slick steers by veteran reinsman Richard Simard.
The winner in excess of $30 million in purse earnings swept the $6,500 affairs with The Love Bug and Maximus Deo.
The Love Bug made it back-to-back wins at Rideau Carleton Raceway thanks to his front-stepping score in 1:54.1. The Stephen Leblanc trainee battled to the quarter in :27.1 before taking a back seat in the second quarter. He regained the lead in the backstretch and took the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2. He used a :29.4 closing panel to seal the deal by 2-1/4 lengths over Meersburg. Bazinga Brad rounded out the top three finishers.
The 32-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings to $189,835 for Stephen and Michelle Leblanc of Perth, Ont.
Simard also guided Maximus Deo to a second consecutive victory at Rideau Carleton Raceway thanks to a 1:56.4 triumph in his $6,650 assignment.
The Chelsea Knapp-trained son of Muscles Yankee-Doris Deo was on the lead all way through fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:26.2. A :30.2 closing panel earned the gelding the win by 5-3/4 lengths over Torches Angel in 1:56.4. What A Rush completed the Triactor ticket.
Let go as the second choice in the wagering, Maximus Deo won for the 11th time this season and for the 14th time in his career. Knapp owns the career winner in excess of $80,000.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.