Driver Guy Gagnon stole the show on Sunday, April 7 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, snagging the victory in both $10,000 Preferred Handicaps for both the pacers and trotters on the 11-race card.
The field of six Preferred pacers stepped into the spotlight first in the evening's seventh race, where Gagnon was aboard The Light Speed, starting from post six. Gagnon took The Light Speed to the rear of the field off the gate, meanwhile Lovemyrockinbird (Pascal Berube) and Dylans Bank (Jimmy Gagnon) duelled to the opening quarter in :27.2. Dylans Bank cleared to the front as the pacers passed the stands for the first time and proceeded to the halfway point in :56.1. Dylans Bank picked the pace up on the backstretch where he scooted away from the field by three lengths on the way to three-quarters in 1:23.4 while 2-5 favourite P L Ozzy (Robert Shepherd) loomed large first-over with The Light Speed on his back.
P L Ozzy quickly closed the gap on the final turn and engaged the leader. Dylans Bank was a length clear at the top of the lane, with P L Ozzy continuing to bear down while The Light Speed tipped off cover to make it a three-across stretch battle. P L Ozzy wore down a stubborn Dylans Bank, but The Light Speed steamrolled late with a :28.3 final surge to edge the favourite by a neck on the line in 1:52.3. Shotgun Jerry slipped between horses late to pick up the third spot with Stephane Pouliot in the bike. The Light Speed paid $4.80 to win.
The victory was the second consecutive and third in eight seasonal outings for The Light Speed, who is trained by Gagnon for owner Michel Nolette. The six-year-old gelded son of Moon Beam-Jayma has now banked $350,214 lifetime after notching his 48th career victory through 112 tries.
Gagnon used different tactics aboard the Mandy Archer-trained Meadowbranch Noble to earn the victory in the Preferred Trot. Leaving from post six in the field of seven, Gagnon hustled Meadowbranch Noble to the front off the gate through an opening quarter of :28.2. Gagnon tapped the brakes in the second quarter, reaching the halfway point in :59 as Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) stalked the leader from the pocket. The top pair began to seperate themselves from the remainder of the pack up the backstretch, with Meadowbranch Noble leading to three-quarters in 1:27.
Raising Rusty was content to sit the pocket and wait for the passing lane on the final turn as Meadowbranch Noble turned for home 1-1/2 lengths clear. Raising Rusty took his shot up the inside in the lane, but Meadowbranch Noble held his challenger at bay with a :28.4 final quarter to score the victory by a length in 1:55.4. Mask Of Zoro (Stephane Brosseau) finished third to round out the trifecta. Meadowbranch Noble returned $4.50 to his backers at the betting windows.
The victory was the second of 2024 for Meadowbranch Noble though nine starts, with the victories coming consecutively since coming to Rideau Carleton. Owned by Jamie Copley, the seven-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter-Wen Mars Memo is now a 13-time winner for his career, sporting a career bankroll of $240,249.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)