Sunday, Dec. 30 at Rideau Carleton Raceway marked the end of the 2018 season with racing going on a short hiatus into the new year.
Guy Gagnon finished the season as Rideau's leading driver with 152 wins, more than double of Stephane Brosseau who took the runner-up spot with 74 wins total and four wins on the final card. He tied with Jonathan Lachance who won one race on the card.
Winning three on the card, one of Gagnon's wins came aboard favourite Seeyou Men, who popped pocket and progressed to a four-and-three-quarter length score in the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Talbotcreek Suzie set the tempo with minimal pressure on the lead, trotting fractions of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:27.1. Seeyou Men pulled for the lead circling the final turn and kicked to a two-length lead turning into the stretch. The race-favourite opened his margin to the wire as Pasadena Star rallied from third over to be second and Flying Isa N settled for third.
A six-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass, Seeyou Men won his eighth race in 31 starts this season and his 22nd in 86 overall, earning $205,969. Daniel Martin conditioned the $7.20 winner for owners Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel.
Trainer Jamie Copley led in wins heading into the final card but Yves Tessier claimed the trainer's title by winning five on the card totaling 79 on the season. Jamie Copley took second with one win on the card while Guy Gagnon took third with one win more than Gerard Demers; both won a race on the card.
Tessier also took the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Pace when nine-year-old Dragon Again gelding Ufdragons Rocket ranged first over and bested odds-on favourite Doctor Royal by one-and-a-half lengths in 1:55.3.
Away fifth through a :27.3 opening quarter, driver Pascal Berube pulled first over in pursuit of pacesetter Doctor Royal pacing through a :57.4 half. Ufdragons Rocket drew closer to the leader passing three-quarters in 1:26.4 but stalled rounding the final turn. Hitting the straightaway, Ufdragons Rocket advanced past Doctor Royal to win in hand while Card Knock Life, from second over, finished seven lengths back in third.
Owned by Francois Morin, Ufdragons Rocket won his 13th race from 38 starts this season and his 55th from 261 overall, earning $426,323. He paid $12.40 to win.
Tessier also sent Macktwowilldew ($3.10) to a wire-to-wire 1:56.2 win in a $6,000 claiming pace, National Debt ($2.60) to a two-length 1:54.2 victory in a $6,900 conditioned pace, Jordies Hope ($10.80) to a four-length off-the-pace swoop in 1:57.1 to take a $6,000 claiming pace and Santanna Tony ($4.60) to a 1:57.4 victory in a $5,500 conditioned claiming pace.
Racing resumes at Rideau Carleton Raceway in February of 2019.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.