A set of $14,000 Preferred events – one for pacers and one for trotters – were contested at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening, and in both instances the favourites failed to get the job done
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Match Bayama came within one-fifth of a second from matching his lifetime mark when he sped to a 1:52.4 score in the Preferred Pace. John MacDonald marched first-over with the eight-year-old Goliath Bayama gelding, and the trip didn’t bother the Sebastien Giroux pupil one iota as he stepped away to win by a one-length margin over Peenie. Aint No Hearsay rounded out the top three finishers.
Les Ecuries Giroux Inc, Claude Giroux and Jacques Caron of Quebec share ownership on the 34-time winner, who now owns a 2-1-0 record in his first five starts of the 2010 campaign. The $7,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $335,916.
Guilford used front-end tactics to win the $14,000 Preferred Trot for driver Guy Gagnon and trainer Gerard Demers. The six-year-old son of Angus Hall tore off panels of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.1 before using a :29.2 final frame to notch the 1:56.3 decision. It was more than two lengths back to runner-up J S Chisum, with race favourite An Honorable Man tagging along to grab the show dough.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, Guilford made his debut for 9174 7998 Quebec Inc of Blainville, QC a winning one. The trotter was claimed from his assignment on March 21 for $22,000. It was third consecutive victory for the OSS graduate and his fifth triumph of the season in 11 tries. Sunday’s score pushed his overall cash stash to $245,663.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.