Alacrity ($10.90) and Solid Performance ($10.20) took down the post-time favourites in their respective Winners Over Handicap events on Sunday night (May 28) at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Alacrity tracked the favoured front-stepper Commissioner Daley through panels of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.2 in the $6,500 trotting feature before pouncing in the stretch. Jacques Beaudoin tipped the five-year-old Pilgrims Taj gelding out in the lane and hauled down Commissioner Daley to win by one and a quarter lengths in 1:56.1. Tymal Wizard (Brett MacDonald) followed in third.
Trainer Jamie Copley shares ownership of Alacrity as part of the Copley Stables, along with partners Jody Sanderson and Dean Larkin. The victory was the trotter's second of the year and eighth lifetime, with his Sunday winnings leaving him just shy of the $200,000 earnings mark.
In the co-featured $6,800 pacing division, Solid Performance and Richard Simard followed along back in seventh-place through contested fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:24.2 before closing widest off all to defeat favourite Highland Tartan (Darrell Coville), who had recovered from an early misstep and made front late in the mile with a wide-sweeping move. Solid Performance prevailed in the blanket finish though by half a length in 1:53.4. Bali (Marie Claude Auger) had the edge in a photo for show as the top seven finishers were spread across just two lengths at the wire.
Marc Andre Cormier trains and owns the eight-year-old Armbro Deuce gelding, a career winner of almost $130,000 who scored his second victory this year and 26th lifetime.
In other action, the Chelsea Knapp stable celebrated a perfect night at the races with three wins in as many starts. Knapp's winners were all reined by difference drivers and included Modern Day Clyde ($3.30, Stephane Lareau), Maximus Deo ($5.80, Simard) and Strokin ($6.70, Clarke Steacy).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.