Race favourites failed to deliver in Sunday’s featured tilts at Rideau Carleton Raceway, but that was music to the ears of the connections of Raising Richard and Skyway Boomer.
Raising Richard turned a two-hole trip into a 1:57.4 triumph in the $6,500 trotting feature for the tandem of trainer Ed McHale and driver Darrell Coville. The gelding was able to stalk the tempo-setting favourite, Heres The Magic, through panels of :29.1 and :59.3 before attacking that foe all the way to the three-quarter pole in 1:29.1. Raising Richard muscled to the top at the head of the lane and used a :28.2 closing quarter to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Heres The Magic. Third prize went to Collector Classic.
The five-year-old son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Raising The Bar is owned by Ontario partners 2099551 Ontario Inc of Greely and John MacMillan of Spencerville. It was the second win of the year – and the 22nd to date – for the career winner of $139,348.
One race later in the $6,800 feature for pacers it was Skyway Boomer rallying from out of the clouds en route to posting a 1:54.1 tally for driver Ted McDonald.
The Jamie Copley pupil got away seventh before picking up positions while riding cover in the middle stages of the mile. Still fourth going into the final quarter of the contest, the gelding fired home in :28.2 en route to posting the neck decision over Solid Performance. Race favourite Highland Tartan, who came first-over, was third.
Sent off at odds of 10-1, the five-year-old son of Sportswriter-Buckle Bunni posted the victory for Copley Stables, Jody Sanderson and Dean Larkin. It was the first win of the season in two attempts for the 15-time winner. The lion’s share of the loot bumped his lifetime earnings over $80,000.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.