Conditioner Yves Tessier scored three wins on the 15-race card at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (April 3), including a victory in the co-featured $10,500 Preferred Handicap Pace with Major Hill.
Driven by Pascal Berube, Major Hill cleared control past a :26.1 first quarter and kept the speed hot to a :54.2 half with The Light Speed sitting in the pocket. Berube slowed the tempo to three-quarters in 1:23, where favourite Legion Seelster took aim first-over out of third after the pacesetter. Though Major Hill quickened off the turn and for the finish, turning away Legion Seelster while holding off The Light Speed by three-quarter lengths to win in 1:51.1. Rock N Zeus finished third, another six lengths behind, and Legion Seelster settled for fourth.
A nine-year-old gelding by Art Major, Major Hill won his third race from 10 starts this season and his 30th from 242 overall, lifting his earnings to $548,371. He paid $15.60 to win and was the second of Tessier’s three winners on the card. His other victories came with Erikas Shadow ($6.20) and Dreydl Hanover ($14).
The Magic Of Life wrapped the card with a 1:56.2 victory in the Preferred Handicap Trot.
Trainer/driver Robbie Robinson floated the six-year-old Royalty For Life gelding off the wings from post eight to race sixth while longshot Cheque The Magic clicked the first quarter in :27.4. Robinson grabbed cover from Crossfit coming to a :57.2 half and advanced second-over as Crossfit took a narrow lead by three-quarters in 1:26.2. Crossfit cleared to the cones around the final turn, leaving The Magic Of Life to grind uncovered into the straightaway and he nonetheless progressed to slide by and win by 1-1/2 lengths at the beam. Cheque The Magic finished third and Gloire Dream finished fourth.
Co-owned by Robinson with Jacqueline Dinelle, The Magic Of Life won his second race from seven starts this season and his 13th from 86 overall, now sporting a bankroll of $101,320 lifetime. He paid $10.30 to win.
In the evening's seventh race, Vines To Heaven ($2.90) continued her win streak with a 2-1/2-length victory in 1:55.1 in rein to Samuel Fillion. Trained by Michael Armstrong and owned by Andrea Rennison, the seven-year-old daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven earned her sixth straight score and eighth of the season to tie atop the North American leaderboard for most wins so far in 2022.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.