A handful of $4,800 divisions – three for pacers and two for trotters – got the 6K Series underway at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday night.
The 6K Pacing Series is for fillies and mares that started in a $6,000 claimer or lower race at Rideau as of June 1, 2008. There is no claiming in the series.
Amazing Maxine converted from a pocket trip to take the first division for driver Jacques Beaudoin. The six-year-old Apache Max mare tracked Wicked Windfall (John MacDonald) through fractions of :28.2, :59.2 and 1:28.4. Apache Maxine had the strongest kick in the lane and posted a quarter-length decision in 1:58.3. Jeri West (Gord Brown) was second while Wicked Windfall stayed for third.
It was the fourth straight win for Amazing Maxine, who is trained by Jason Woodward for partners Ross and Judy Brown. The mare has five wins from 28 attempts this season and has a bankroll of $19,418.
Red Breast won her second straight start with a 15-1 upset for trainer/driver Jason Gilchrist. The converted five-year-old Mr Lavec mare, who is having better luck on the pace, sat fifth for a half in :28.2 and :57.2 before grabbing cover on the way to the 1:27.2 three-quarters. Red Breast blew by the leaders in the lane, pacing her way to a two and a half length score in 1:58.2. Marie Phil Bg (Guy Gagnon) was second and Ride The Bus (John MacDonald) grabbed third.
Dr. Frederick Albert owns Red Breast, who has four wins in the 2008 season from 21 starts, leading to purses of $14,869.
Landfairmaggiejane went the distance in the last division for the pacers. Guy Gagnon guided the five-year-old Presidential Ball mare through panels of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:28 en route to a length and a quarter verdict in 1:58. Southwind Miata (Sandy Jones) got the best of Missys Fame (Leo Turenne) for second.
Serge Cardinal conditions Landfairmaggiejane for owner Jean Guy Villeneuve. In 26 starts in 2008, the mare has seven wins and a bankroll of $40,064.
The 6K Trotting Series is for horses that started in a $6,000 claimer or lower race at Rideau as of June 1, 2008. There is no claiming in the series.
Make Mine Chocolat used a two-hole trip to land in the winner’s circle for driver John MacDonald. Following Jn Kingkurt (Sandy Jones) through stanzas of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:30.3, the nine-year-old Yankee Glide gelding collared the leader in the stretch and won by a length and a quarter in 2:03. Jn Kingkurt was second best while Sonic Yankee (Paul Loranger Jr.) turned a rail trip into third money.
Barbara Baldwin owns and trains Make Mine Chocolat, who has four wins in 32 starts, collecting earnings of $17,306.
Berto Coquette prevailed in the second split for trotters with a second-over triumph. Handled by John MacDonald, the five-year-old Shipps Speed mare was in no hurry through a half in :29 and :59.4. Berto Coquette was in the live cover flow heading to the 1:29.4 and after tipping three-wide, she nailed the leaders down the lane to win by a quarter-length in 2:01.3. Scene Duharas (Jason Gilchrist) did all the roadwork and finished second, with Pacopaco (Paul Loranger Jr.) third.
Jamie Johnston trains and co-owns Berto Coquette, who is 9-5-3 in 32 seasonal starts for earnings of $47,422, with Scott MacArthur.
To view Rideau’s results, click here.