Guy Gagnon wrapped up a five-win night at Rideau Carleton Raceway by sweeping Sunday's co-featured Preferreds with his own trainees Cobalt Man and Wildwild Men.
Cobalt Man ($4.30) was a repeat winner in the $8,550 Preferred Handicap Pace, leading the way through fractions of :28.1, :57 and 1:24.4 before stopping the clock in 1:52.2. Gagnon co-owns the 10-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding with Gestion Louis Latulippe Inc., and Gestion Bruno Blouin Inc. Cobalt Man was an impressive three-length winner over Windsun Cheyenne, with Smalltown Terror third.
Wildwild Men ($13.10) edged out late-closer Flying Isa N in his Rideau debut to take the $8,400 Preferred Handicap Trot in 1:54.3 by a neck while the favoured race leader Raising Richard (:27.1, :55.3, 1:24.3) finished one and a half lengths behind in third. The five-year-old Muscle Mass gelding, who closed through the passing lane after gapping early in the three-hole, is owned by Catheline Pelletier and breeder Chantal Gravel.
Prior to the Preferreds, Gagnon also drove winners Wildcat Cam ($21.20), Saulsbrook Lanny ($8.70) and Emma Ivy ($3.80), all trained by Jamie Copley who also sent out Jefferson Tare ($8) to victory in the finale with Richard Simard aboard.
On Sunday, Rideau Carleton Raceway hosted 'Zeron Night' for Ottawa’s Shepherds of Good Hope, celebrating the talents of O'Brien Award-winning driver Rick Zeron, who returned to the Capital City oval where he launched his career in 1975. Zeron, who drove the Yves Tessier-trained trotter Upvote Hanover ($5.20) to victory mid-card and picked up cheques in his seven other drives, pledged to donate his purse earnings from the evening to the fundraising efforts.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.