There was no better place to be than the front end in Rideau Carleton Raceway's top class events on Sunday night (June 18).
And that's exactly where pacer Nobettorplacetobe and trotter Raising Richard were in their respective Winners Over Handicap divisions.
Trained and driven by Guy Gagnon, 2-5 favourite Nobetterplacetobe ($2.80) cruised through fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:23.3 en route to a 1:52.3 victory in the $6,800 pace. The five-year-old son of Bettors Delight was never challenged as his closest rival, Officially Rusty (Stephane Pouliot), rode the pocket two and three-quarter lengths behind with Skyway Boomer (Jacques Beaudoin) following in third.
Nobetterplacetobe, who now has three wins this year and $18,682 banked in purses, was claimed for $15,000 last time out on June 4 by Ecuries Guy Gagnon Inc., Gestion Louis Latulippe Inc., and Gestion Bruno Blouin Inc.
Raising Richard won the $6,500 co-featured trot in wire-to-wire fashion as well for driver Darrell Coville, but had to contend with the pocket-pulling favourite in the stretch. After posting panels of :28.4, :59 and 1:27.2, he fought off 3-5 Unabating (Guy Gagnon) down the lane to win by three-quarters of a length in a career-best time of 1:56.3. Cabertoss (Brett MacDonald) finished back in third.
Raising Richard was the 4-5 second favourite and paid $3.80 to win. Ed McHale trains the five-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe gelding, who has won eight of his 15 races this year while earning $33,268, for owners John MacMillan and 2099551 Ontario Inc.
In addition to winning one of the evening's feature events, Gagnon also drove 11-year-old pacer Pieraz to a neck decision over Ultimate Beachboy in 1:56.3 marking Gina Bragagnolo's first career training win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.