With a career-best victory in the $8,400 Preferred Handicap Pace, Neon Lights completed Gerard Demers' training triple on Sunday night (June 10) at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Leaving out of post five, Neon Lights and driver Jonathan Lachance cleared inside starter Pasadena Star (Stephane Pouliot), but the even-money favourite quickly retook the lead at the :28.1 quarter mark. Pasadena Star then turned back first-over challenger Unabating (Guy Gagnon) after middle splits of :58.1 and 1:26.3, but Neon Lights took the passing lane route to victory, prevailing by one and a half lengths and taking a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4. Torches Angel Stephane Brosseau) followed in third.
Owned by La Ferme Tag Inc., the four-year-old Chapter Seven-Flourescent gelding has now won twice in four starts off a two-month layoff and since joining the Demers stable.
A close runner-up in last week's Preferred, Neon Light was sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice in a field of eight and paid $12 to win.
Demers was also victorious driving three-year-old trotting colt Smart Pick to an open-length win in the 10-race program's opener. A few races later, eight-year-old pacer Craven The Beach inherited the win in rein to Lachance before being claimed with stablemate Amble Over Hanover promoted to second in 1-2 fourth race finish for Demers.
This week's co-featured $8,100 Preferred Handicap Pace went to National Debt ($8.40), who took the lead on the way to the half and fought off 4-5 favourite Cobalt Man (Guy Gagnon) to win by a neck with Pascal Berube driving for Rideau's leading trainer Yves Tessier and owner Francois Morin. The 1:52.2 victory was his sixth and fastest this year.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.