As he did when Rideau returned from the second provincial shutdown in February, trainer-driver Guy Gagnon put on a clinic in Rideau Carleton Raceway’s first card back from the third shutdown on Sunday (June 13).
Rideau’s leading reinsman frequented the winner’s circle on the 14-race card a total of seven times, four of which came with pupils from his barn and the remainder comprising a hat trick for trainer Mandy Archer.
One of Gagnon’s victories came in the $9,200 Preferred Trot, where he piloted his trainee Seeyou Men to a wire-to-wire romp in 1:56. Leaving from post 4, the nine-year-old Muscle Mass gelding motored to the lead and began to open his margin past a :27.4 opening quarter. He trotted to the half in :57.4 and soon jetted five lengths clear of his rivals moving to three-quarters in 1:26.3, a margin that he maintained to the finish while chased home by Franks Angel and third-place finisher Severus Hanover.
A homebred for Chantal Gravel co-owned by Catheline Pelletier, Seeyou Men won his 31st race from 137 starts, earning $333,287. He paid $3.40 to win.
Gagnon started the evening with a victory for Mandy Archer trainee Umpire Hanover ($2.80) and capped a natural grand slam at the opening of the card with another from her barn, Wisk Key K ($2.30). Sandwiched between the Archer trainees were wins from Gagnon’s barn by The Light Speed ($3.30) and Barn One ($13.40). Gagnon later visited the winner’s circle following Seeyou Men’s win with his trainee Jimmy Be Good ($4.00) before capping the evening with a win for Mandy Archer behind Thinkingofyoubabe ($4.70).
In a race not won by Gagnon, Springbridge Jim sprung a mild upset to take the evening’s co-feature, a $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace. The four-year-old son of Big Jim settled into fourth while Racemup set a tempo of :26.3 and :56.4. And though the pace quickened to three-quarters in 1:25, driver Robert Robinson launched Springbridge Jim uncovered for the lead and seized command around the final turn. From there, the Andy Moore trainee coasted to a three-and-three-quarter length victory in 1:53 over pocket-sitter Salty Robyn N. Racemup held third.
Co-owned by Andy Moore with Allen Moore, Tommy Godfrey and Charles Farrell, Springbridge Jim won his seventh race from 26 starts, earning $90,905. He paid $12.70 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.