Trotter Undercover Bro and pacer D Gs Woodstock were victorious in the co-featured Winners Over $25,000 Lifetime/Not Listed Preferred Handicaps while five-time Sunday winner Gord Brown pulled ahead in the local driver standings at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Driven by Stephane Lareau, Undercover Bro swept around early leader Four Starz Speed after the :28.1 opening quarter in the $6,500 trot division. The seven-year-old Classic Photo gelding fought off favourite Imminent Response through middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27.1 then drew away by three lengths down the homestretch to score his third win of the year in 1:58.4. Four Starz Speed won a three-way battle for place over Imminent Response and Ghirardelli Lindy. Richard Lareau trains and co-owns the winner with Stephane Legrand. The 5-2 second choice paid $7.40 to win.
In the top pacing class, Daniel Surprenant's homebred gelding D Gs Woodstock relinquished the lead to the streaking Anderlecht at the :28.1 quarter-pole, but after following in the pocket through middle panels of :58.3 and 1:26.3, he swept by that foe in the passing lane to score the half-length victory in 1:56.3. Solid Performance closed late off the cover of favourite Bestofbest Hanover to finish third. Overlooked as the longest shot on the board at 16-1 in his seasonal debut, D Gs Woodstock paid $34.00 to win. Denis St Pierre drove the eight-year-old son of Yankee Cam, who is trained by Guylaine Fortin.
Meanwhile, Gord Brown had five consecutive winning drives on Sunday's 10-race card. Four of his winners were from the leading Gerard Demers stable: Rosa Santanna ($3.00), Will To Do ($3.00), Its A Go ($2.90) and Slight Tough ($6.50). Blake Curran trainee The Love Bug ($3.50) completed his winning crusade.
Tied (20 wins) with Lareau atop the Rideau driver standings entering Sunday's card, Brown took over the lead with his five victories to Lareau's single feature win. Demers extended his lead in the 2015 trainer standings; with 18 wins, he now leads by six over John MacMillan.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.