The Light Speed emerged from a lengthy speed duel to take his sixth Rideau Carleton Raceway Preferred Handicap Pace of the year on Sunday, July 13, winning the track’s $10,000 top dash on a surface rated good.
Starting from post seven, the reigning Horse of the Year at Rideau was out-left by several rivals off the car, but Guy Gagnon left the gelding out to drive on into the first turn. He raced outside through a :26.1 first quarter and continued to attack leader Beef N Cheddar (William Roy) first-over through the half in a fiery :53.2. The Light Speed finally muscled past that rival on the backstretch, and Gagnon hustled him through three-quarters in 1:21.3 to extend the lead on the final turn. The Light Speed straightened for home with a sizable cushion and rolled home despite shortening strides to score in 1:51.3. Early Action (Robert Shepherd) flew down the stretch for second, cutting the deficit to 1-1/4 lengths. Lakers Bank (Darcy Clancy) finished third.
The Light Speed won his seventh race of 2025 in 18 starts for Gagnon, who trains the seven-year-old son of Moon Beam-Jayma. The Light Speed, consistently one of Rideau’s top Preferred performers over the last five years, has won 67 of his 151 lifetime starts and has earned $490,989 for owner/breeder Michel Nolette of Princeville, Que.
Leading trainer Mandy Archer produced the other noteworthy performance on the evening, winning four of the card’s 11 races. She struck early with Gigitygigitygigity ($7.80) in the first in 1:52, doubled up as Muktuk Annie ($9.40) romped in the third in 1:56.1, won the seventh race with Logan Behold ($8.10) in 1:53.3, and made it a grand slam with Bettor At Hightide ($2.50) in the 10th in 1:53.1. Archer’s Sunday outing increased her seasonal win total to 49 in 157 starts, a win rate of 31.2 per cent. She collected a cheque with all nine starters on the card.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)