Riding behind quick fractions from the pocket, Lit De Rose pounced on tiring pacesetter Stonebridge Beach to pace a track-record mile when winning the $9,200 Preferred Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (June 28).
Stonebridge Beach, the longest shot on the board at 23-1, cleared command from the outermost post in the field of six to lead past the first quarter in :26.3. Driver Jonathan Lachance landed Lit De Rose in second and stayed put as Stonebridge Beach continued to speed through fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1. Lachance made his move with Lit De Rose straightening for the finish, vacating pocket and lunging past Stonebridge Beach to post a one-and-three-quarter length victory in 1:52.2. The time lowers the previous track record for aged pacing mares of 1:52.4 set by St Lads Moxie in July 2013.
A homebred for Guy Corbeil, Lit De Rose won his first race from two starts this season and his 13th from 40 overall, earning $145,167. Maxime Velaye trains the five-year-old Leader Bayama mare who paid $5.90 to win.
Flying Isa N rallied off cover in the co-featured $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot to score by three-quarter lengths in 1:56.3.
Keepall took the field by the first quarter in :29 but soon faced first-over pressure from Im The Muscle moving to a :58.3 half. Flying Isa N followed Im The Muscle’s steps as the first-over challenger stuck a length in front of Keepall, who tired to the inside past three-quarters in 1:27. Im The Muscle took control into the stretch but failed to withstand a final charge from Flying Isa N, with the 12-year-old Pegasus Spur gelding sliding past to victory. Odds-on favourite Seeyou Men closed to finish third, three lengths behind second-place finisher Im The Muscle.
Owned by Francois Morin, Flying Isa N won his second race from four starts this season and his 48th from 170 overall, earning $607,649. Stephane Brosseau drove the $5.00 winner for trainer Yves Tessier.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.