Nothing has been able to stand in the way of Guilford in recent weeks, and it was more of the same in Sunday’s $14,000 Preferred Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway
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Guilford took home top prize in co-feature of the evening thanks to a 1:57.1 triumph for driver Guy Gagnon. The six-year-old son of Angus Hall chopped out panels of :29, :58.4 and 1:27.4 before scooting home in :29.2 to seal the deal. Make You Mine was a rallying runner-up and Silverado Dream rounded out the top three.
Gerard Demers, who enjoyed a training triple on the card, watched the square-gaiter extend his win streak to five-in-a-row with the win. The 15-time winner, who was recently claimed for $22,000 by 9174 7998 Quebec Inc of Blainville, QC, boasts more than $266,000 in career earnings.
A hot pace in the $14,000 Preferred Pace left the door wide-open for a closer to capitalize, and P H Bestman did exactly that in his debut for Rideau Carleton Raceway’s leading trainer. Jamie Copley recently took over the calling the shots with P H Bestman, and the five-year-old son of Cambest turned in an eye-catching performance en route to stopping the clock in 1:53.1.
Kyle Forgie was in no hurry with P H Bestman, who was seventh when Best Show In Town tripped the teletimer at the quarter-pole in :27 seconds. Things were still the same at the mid-way point in :55.2, but things starts to change as the field headed towards the final turn. Best Show In Town was still in charge of the tempo at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4, but Forgie had tipped P H Bestman to the outside sat sixth going into the final two furlongs of the tilt.
A :28.3 final frame was just enough for P H Bestman to circle past his foes for the 1:53.1 decision. Match Bayama, who was sent off as the 2/5 favourite, finished a lapped-on second after doing the first over work. Best Show In Town was a bang-up third.
Dr. James Shive of Shubenacadie, NS holds the papers on P H Bestman, who won for the second time this season and for the 20th time in his career. He has stashed away more than $178,000 to date.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.