The $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace was served up as the featured class on Sunday evening, June 16 at Rideau Carleton Raceway and Aladdin must have found the right magic lamp to light up the board as the 6-1 upset victor.
Full Horse (Jimmy Gagnon) and The Light Speed (Guy Gagnon) found themselves in an early tussle for the lead. Stephane Brosseau took Aladdin back and landed in fifth through opening marks in :26.4 and :55.1. After the half, Jet Rock (Robert Shepherd) pulled and Aladdin followed his lead through the three-quarters in 1:23.2. Turning for home, the victory was up to anyone as the field fanned across the stretch. With a little magic and a lot of power, Aladdin sped home to take the win by a neck in 1:52.1 over the favoured The Light Speed. Jet Rock took the show spot.
Aladdin (Shadow Play-Eloge) is a five-year-old gelding bred and owned by Guy Corbeil. Maxime Velaye trains the winner of 16 races from 40 career starts. With his first win from five starts this year, Aladdin moved his lifetime sum to $143,375. He paid $14.30 to win at 6-1 odds.
Also on the Sunday evening menu, a pair of retirement ceremonies joined the main course as Pantheon Seelster and Cheque The Magic made their final journey to the winner's circle.
Pantheon Seelster (Camluck-Panettone) is a 14-year-old gelding trained by Michael Armstrong for owner Rachel Burns. With 337 starts in his resume, Pantheon Seelster has earned a record of 26-53-53 with $262,840 banked. He took his career mark of 1:53.4 at the age of nine at Rideau.
Twelve-year-old Cheque The Magic (Kadabra-Cheque Lavec) also took his last steps on the track with a record of 41-43-45 under his belt in 332 starts. Owned by Julia Ferguson and Lloyd Stone, the Ted McDonald student boasts a $291,020 bankroll and a mark of 1:56 taken at Rideau at the age of 10.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)