Rideau Carleton Raceway’s leading driver Guy Gagnon had himself another evening at the Ottawa oval on Sunday (Dec. 19) when he steered five winners on the 11-race card including the pacing three-year-old The Light Speed, who scored his third-straight victory in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace.
A gelding by Moonbeam, The Light Speed steadily surged for the front through a :27.4 first quarter and held firm through the mile. He took over the lead heading to a :56 half and quickened the tempo to three-quarters in 1:24.4 as National Debt was the only one attempting an overland bid from fourth. The long trip began to prove taxing to The Light Speed at the bottom of the turn, but Gagnon’s pupil clung to command through the straightaway as National Debt gained ground to take second, beaten a length in the 1:54.2 mile. Vanilla Malted sat a pocket trip to take third and Racemup finished fourth.
Bred and owned by Michel Nolette, The Light Speed won his 14th race from 24 starts this season and his 16th from 35 overall, pushng his earnings to $102,609. He paid $2.90 to win.
The Light Speed registered the last of Gagnon’s five wins on the card. He opened the evening with a win by Wisk Key K ($2.70) and later won with Thundering Jim ($2.40), Four Finger Floyd ($2.50) and Mach Jacobs ($18.70).
In the race before the Preferred Pace, Black Tie Bash bolted off a second-over trip to grab a 1:56.2 win in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Fit Bitt pushed for the front from the pylon post and then yielded control to 7-5 favourite Crossfit after a :28 first quarter. Ripped And Ready, parked from the start, advanced uncovered to race in third into a :57.3 half, where driver Robert Shepherd caught cover from that one for Black Tie Bash. Crossfit continued to control the tempo with Ripped And Ready inching closer to three-quarters in 1:26.3 but was left to a loose lead around the final turn as the first-over grind finally wore Ripped And Ready. Black Tie Bash then sprung off his tiring cover and lifted through the lane to sweep to a length victory over pocket-surging Fit Bitt and Crossfit, who settled for third.
Owned by Robert Shepherd, Black Tie Bash won his fourth race from 26 starts this season and his sixth from 35 overall, pushing his earnings to $73,143. Isabelle Darveau trains the $8.10 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.