After scoring a hat trick last week, conditioner Yves Tessier returned to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (April 10) to score another three-win night, which included a win in the co-featured $10,500 Preferred Handicap Pace by Major Hill.
Driver Steeven Genois sent the nine-year-old Art Major gelding to the lead from the outermost post in the quintet to lead the field after a :26.4 first quarter. Snagging a breather to a :55 half, Major Hill accelerated into the backstretch as 7-5 favourite The Light Speed charged first-over to match strides with the leader by three-quarters in 1:23.1. The pair remained stride for stride around the final turn and through the stretch to the finish, where Major Hill kept The Light Speed at bay by a nose to win in 1:51.2. Lovemyrockinbird finished third and Legion Seelster took fourth.
Owned by Francois Morin, Major Hill won his fourth race from 11 starts this season and his 31st from 243 overall, pushing his lifetime earnings to $553,621. The $6.40 winner was the second of Tessier’s three winners on the night, with his other two wins coming from Erikas Shadow ($2.40) and Dreydl Hanover ($7.20).
Gloire Dream recovered from a break at the start to rally and win the $10,500 Preferred Handicap Trot later in the card.
The 11-year-old In Dix Huit gelding caught the field to race seventh, 11 lengths off leader Fit Bitt to a :29.2 first quarter. Fit Bitt strode unchallenged to a :59.4 half as Seven Iron pulled first-over out of fifth with Gloire Dream also moving wide to make steady progress. Seven Iron rolled to within a length of the lead by three-quarters in 1:29.1 while Gloire Dream sat third over to the final turn before driver Sam Fillion fired the Yannick Martel trainee off cover. In the stretch, Gloire Dream barreled to the lead as favourite The Magic Of Life, kicking off cover from second-over, gave pursuit to snag second in a blanket finish, beaten a length. Fit Bitt missed on the photo to settle for third with Seeyou Men also in the picture but taking fourth.
Co-owned by Martel with Ecurie Richard Moreau Inc., Gloire Dream won his second race from six starts this season and his 27th from 163 overall, lifting his lifetime earnings to $347,517. He paid $13.80 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.