The Russ Moulton Memorial Series continued on Sunday night at Rideau Carleton Raceway with the odds-on favourites -- including two pacers that were perfect in the opening legs -- going down in defeat
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Second choice Atoka Millionaire ($7.10) and driver Stephane Brosseau held off the popular pocket-pulling Talk Back, a winner in both the first and second legs of the series, to win the first $6,700 division of this round by half a length in 1:55.1. The three-year-old Million Dollar Cam-Cristel Story colt, who has won three times in nine seasonal starts, is trained by Jacques Dupont for owners Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc. of Repentigny, Que. and Pierre Marc Longpre of Legardeur, Que.
Shipps Xcalibur ($5), also the second choice in his split, followed the favoured round two champ Access Key and surged ahead for a one length tally in 1:57.3 in rein to Simon Allard, a five-time winner on the 15-race card. The win was the Royal Mattjesty-Datefortheball gelding's second in nine attempts as a four-year-old for trainer Marc Andre Simoneau, who also co-owns with Francois Morin of Beauceville, Que.
In the final division, the Thomas Dalborg-driven Sovereign Wealth ($24.80) wore down Riding With P, who was undefeated in the opening legs like fellow John MacMillan trainee Talk Balk. The four-year-old Camluck-Trust Me Ashley gelding, owned and trained by Philip Doyle, prevailed by a neck in 1:56.2 for his second win in eight seasonal starts.
The pacing series is for horses and geldings that are non-winners of $15,000 lifetime by the end of the 2011 campaign.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.