On the Sunday, April 7 card at Rideau Carleton Raceway, trainers Jamie Copley, Guy Gagnon and Gerard Demers each sent three winners on the 13-race program.
Of the three, Gagnon, who drove five winners on the card, also took the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Pace with Saulsbrook Peach while Gerard Demers won the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Trot with Neon Lights.
Saulsbrook Peach took charge of his competition passing a :27.2 opening quarter and paced to a :57.3 half under first-over pursuit by Windsun Cheyenne, who drew within a length of the lead passing a 1:26.3 third quarter. However Saulsbrook Peach opened on his competition in the stretch, finishing two-and-a-half lengths better than pocket-sitter Bestofbest Hanover taking second while Windsun Cheyenne settled for third.
A 10-year-old gelding by Royal Mattjesty, Saulsbrook Peach, owned by Catheline Pelletier, won his second race from five starts this season and his 29th from 188 overall, earning $189,037. Guy Gagnon drove the $5.60 winner, who gave him his second training win of the night. Gagnon also steered pupils Four Starz Speed ($7.40; 1:58.1) and Cliff Drummond ($33.50; 1:55.4) to victories on the card.
Sent the favourite in the Preferred Trot, Neon Lights lunged to the lead past the half and held sway through the wire over Flying Isa N in 1:55.4.
The five-year-old Chapter Seven gelding sat fifth as Wildwild Men led to a :27.4 opening quarter. Driver Jonathan Lachance soon veered off the rail with the Gerard Demers trainee and rushed towards the lead with Flying Isa N following suit to a :57.1 half.
Wildwild Men began to retreat moving to the backstretch, leaving a hole for Flying Isa N to sit in approaching three-quarters. Timed in 1:26.1, Neon Lights led through the stretch as Flying Isa N mounted a final charge towards the leader but finishing a half-length back in second. Lmc Mass Gem took third.
Owned by La Ferme Tag Inc. and Les Ecuries Gld Inc., Neon Lights won his 14th race from 52 starts, earning $144,843. The $5.60 winner gave Demers his second victory on the night as P L Idaho ($2.10; 1:54.1) gave him his first on the night and Rustys Flying ($6.30; 1:58.4) completed the hat trick when winning the nightcap.
Trainer Jamie Copley kicked off the program by sweeping the early double with Mitt Jagger ($3.70; 1:55.4) and Stargazing Cruiser ($4.30; 1:54.3), the latter of which had Guy Gagnon driving. Copley's third victory on the night came as Gagnon guided The Roadies ($5.80) off a pocket trip to a 1:55.3 victory in the penultimate race on the program.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.