Maximuscle followed up a pair of Quebec-Bred Series wins with his third straight victory in Rideau Carleton Raceway's co-featured Winners Over Handicap Trot on Sunday night.
Ecurie Provoquante's homebred Angus Hall gelding overcame his outside post eight starting spot, taking the lead at the :27.3 first quarter mark in Rideau's $6,500 top trotting class under Stephane Lareau's guidance. The Maxime Velaye-trained Maximuscle went unchallenged through middle panels of :58.1 and 1:27.3, and maintained his two-length lead through the stretch for the 1:57.1 triumph. Rocky Boy was second the entire mile while Imminent Response rallied off stalled cover to finish third.
Maximuscle is now three-for-three in his four-year-old campaign and has 16 wins lifetime with earnings totalling $161,284. He paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favourite.
Owned, trained and driven by Melanie Plourde, the class-climbing Bestofbest Hanover carried his winning momentum into the matching Winners Over Handicap Pace and wore down the pacesetting Sovereign Wealth (:26.2, :55.4 and 1:23) for his second straight triumph -- this one in 1:52.4. Pocket-sitter Electric Alberta overtook Sovereign Wealth in deep stretch for second-place honours.
The seven-year-old son of Western Hanover notched his 23rd career win and lifted his bankroll to $588,276. Sent off as the 8-5 favourite, he returned $5.30 to his backers for a $2 win bet.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.