Rideau Carleton Raceway's weekly Winners Over $25,000/Not Listed Preferred Handicap features were won by trotter Ghirardelli Lindy and pacer D Gs Woodstock on Sunday night.
Ghirardelli Lindy, three-wide early on in the $6,500 top trotting class, took the lead from Four Starz Speed after the opening quarter and held off that pylon-skimming foe down the homestretch by the quarter-length in 1:57.4 with Melanie Plourde in the sulky. Michelangelo finished three-quarters of a length behind after tipping out from third down the backstretch. Last week's winner Imminent Response, the 7-5 favourite, tried to rally three-wide around Michelangelo, but faded to sixth before the stretch drive.
Ghirardelli Lindy earned his third win in 12 starts this year. He paid $10.90 as the 9-2 fourth choice in the six-horse field. Robert Dube trains the six-year-old Chocolatier gelding, who went over $100,000 in career earnings for owner Saul Mendelson of Montreal, Que.
D Gs Woodstock, shuffled back to third after leading off the gate in the pacing event, launched his attack near the third quarter mark to wear down the front-stepping Anderlecht in the stretch and then hold off heavy favourite Atomic Million Am, the Prix d’Ete hopeful who was making his season's debut. Driven by Denis St Pierre, D Gs Woodstock prevailed by a head in 1:55.4. Anderlecht stayed for third, finishing one and a half lengths behind.
Overlooked at odds of 10-1 after a close runner-up effort last week to Poppys Bucky Boy, D Gs Woodstock paid $22.50 to win. Bred by owner Daniel Surprenant and trainer Guylaine Fortin, the eight-year-old Yankee Cam gelding is now two-for-four this season.
Jonathan Lapointe, a 20-year-old horseman from Lanoraie, Que., celebrated his first training win in the evening's opener as four-year-old pacer Dream Sena ($18.40) and driver Guy Gagnon tracked down pacesetter Free Tie in the passing lane in a new lifetime mark of 1:58.1. Hp Bushido Dragjet, the 1-2 favourite, weaved between horses for third. Lapointe trains the winner, who was the 15th starter from his stable, for owner Chantal Emond of Lavaltrie, Que.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.