Atomic Million AM circled the field to win Sunday's featured $6,500 Winners Over Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway for the second consecutive week.
Alain Martin's homebred pacer Atomic Million AM ($3.40) and catch-driver Darrell Coville trailed the six-horse field early on before journeying first over to wear down pacesetter D Gs Woodstock (:27, :57.3, 1:25.3) for the 1:54.1 victory by three-quarters of a length. Slight Touch got up for third over Poppys Bucky Boy, who closed up the passing lane.
The 2014 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots and Series Quebecoises champion was making his third start of the year and is just a head short of a perfect four-year-old campaign. He is eligible to the Prix d’Ete.
Trotting mare Out Of The Hat ($5.30) earned her 40th career win in the matching Winners Over Handicap Trot as she converted from the pocket to overtake last week's winner Four Starz Speed after the first over favourite, Will To Do, broke stride around the final turn. She prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:58 flat. Ghirardelli Lindy came on for third in the passing lane. Stephane Pouliot trains and drives the six-year-old daughter of Kadabra for Meadowgem Farm and 9096 9205 Quebec Inc.
In the $5,500 Fillies & Mares Winners Over Handicap Pace, Victoria Semalu ($14.70) nosed out the pacesetting favourite, Addison Bay, in a two-horse breakaway down the stretch to win in 1:53.4. It was eight and half lengths back to third-place finisher Jenna Casimir. Driver Stephane Lareau engineered the winning two-hole trip aboard the five-year-old American Ideal mare, who is trained by Dany Fontaine and owned by Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc.
With three wins on the 12-race card, John MacMillan was able to cut into Gerard Demer's lead in the Rideau trainer standings. He moved within six wins of the top spot (Demers leads 29-23).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.