Canada's first two-year-old qualifying winner of the 2025 harness racing season has emerged with Ideal Rebel debuting successfully on Sunday, June 1 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Trainer Robbie Robinson put Ideal Rebel on the lead and guided the rookie through fractions of :29.2, :59.4 and 1:28.4 en route to the 1:57.1 qualifying triumph, with the final quarter clocked in :28.2 over the track rated fast with a one second variant. He finished two lengths in front of three-year-old filly Ibetyouakiss, with older pacer Hellas Rocket a dozen lengths behind in the field of five with two breakers.
Ideal Rebel's winning time stands as the fastest among 40 two-year-olds in action so far this season across North America.
A $20,270 yearling purchase at the Lexington Select Sale last fall, Ideal Rebel is co-owned by Robinson and Bill Beacham of Calabogie, Ont.
Bred by Winbak Farm, Ideal Rebel is a son of American Ideal out of millionaire Breeders Crown champion Restive Hanover, the dam of five six-figure earners, including a full brother and multiple New York Sire Stakes winner American Rebel ($370,814 - 1:52f) -- who was one of the nation's first two-year-old qualifying winners back in 2019 for Robinson.
Like his brother, Ideal Rebel is being pointed to the New York Sire Stakes if he progresses well.
To view Sunday's complete qualifying results, click the following link: Sunday Results (Qualifiers) - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Be sure to keep tabs on harness racing's two-year-olds throughout the year by using the Two-Year-Old Winners By Sire page on the Standardbred Canada website.
(Standardbred Canada)