Trainer Gerard Demers won three races on the Sunday, June 2 program at Rideau Carleton Raceway with the five-year-old Chapter Seven gelding Neon Lights finishing the hat trick with a 1:55.1 victory in the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Pasadena Star, sent the 6-5 favourite, set the tempo while Neon Lights grabbed the pocket. The pair trotted one-two through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.2 while Flying Isa N, positioned last of the seven, angled off the pylons and began recouping ground into the final turn. Driver Jonathan Lachance waited until the stretch to pop Neon Lights from the pocket and past the pacesetter in progress to a length-and-three-quarter victory. Pasadena Star held second from Flying Isa N closing for third.
Owned by La Ferme Tag Inc. and Les Ecuries GLD Inc., Neon Lights won his second race from nine starts this season and his 15th from 58 overall, earning $153,591. He paid $17.40 to win.
In the race before, Demers and Lachance teamed to win with Twin B Fearless ($3.30), who wired a $5,600 conditioned pace in 1:57.2. They also teamed earlier on the card to win with Mitt Jagger ($8.10), who came first over to win a $6,000 claiming pace by a neck in 1:54.2.
Odds-on favourite Stonebridge Beach brushed to the top early and faced little pressure when pacing to a two-length victory in the $8,100 Preferred Handicap Pace.
Trainer-driver Stephane Pouliot paced wide past a :27.2 opening quarter to take command from pylon-starter Macktwowilldew. Stonebridge Beach then faced no challenge past a :56 half and 1:24 third quarter. Macktwowilldew gave chase from a loose pocket three lengths behind while Cams Lucky Sam chased the top pair from third turning into the stretch. The six-year-old Mach Three stallion strolled to the wire to win in 1:53.1 with Cams Lucky Sam took second from Macktwowilldew.
Owned by 9096 9205 Quebec Inc. and Germain Brazeau, Stonebridge Beach won his fifth race from 15 starts this season and his 24th from 114 overall, earning $455,571. He paid $3.90 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.