Raising Richard resumed his winning ways in the top trotting class at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday night (May 14) as he prevailed off a pocket trip in rein to Darrell Coville.
Following a close runner-up effort over Hippodrome 3R in his last race, Raising Richard returned to Rideau on Sunday where previously he had posted three straight wins in the $6,650 Winners Over Handicap Trot. Despite behind handicapped outside his six foes, the Ed McHale trainee secured a two-hole trip behind Commissioner Daley (:28.4, :59.2, 1:28.4) before collaring the slight favourite at the wire for the 1:57.3 victory. Collector Classic finished seven lengths behind in third.
Raising Richard was the 3-2 second choice and paid $5.10 to win. The five-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe-Raising The Bar gelding, now a 25-time winner with more than $150,000 in purse earnings to his credit, is owned by John MacMillan of Spencerville, Ont., and 2099551 Ontario Inc.
The Coville-McHale combination nearly swept the co-features when Highland Tartan crossed the wire first in the $6,950 Winners Over Handicap Pace, but judges ruled the popular pacer had caused interference near the third quarter mark to pocket pursuer Viper Select and ended up being placed sixth.
As a result, Killer Thriller inherited the win -- his third in a row -- after he rallied home widest of all from the backfield and just missed catching the pressured race leader Highland Tartan (:26.4, :55.3, 1:24.4) on the line. Brett MacDonald drove the five-year-old Jeremes Jet-Thrillicious gelding, whose winning time was clocked in 1:54.2. Skyway Boomer also closed well inside of Killer Thriller and inherited second, finishing half a length behind. Dali On Up was moved up to third.
Karen Kroeger trains and co-owns Killer Thriller with Gilles Plourde of Gatineau, Que. The pacer, who returned $11.50 as the 9-2 third choice in the field, now has 21 career wins and a bankroll exceeding $81,000.
Rideau's leading driver Guy Gagnon made regular appearances in the Rideau winner's circle throughout the night as he record four victories with his own trainees Rain Gauge ($3.90), Adamncam ($2.50), Private Interview ($2.20) and Schrader Hanover ($2.80). Ten-year-old pacer Private Interview won his eighth straight race for Gagnon and was thus claimed away off his string of successful outings.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.