The opening leg of the Fiesty Fillies Pacing Series for two-year-olds got underway on Monday evening at Rideau Carleton Raceway, with a pair of $7,000
divisions on tap for the youngsters. The Rideau Carleton faithful had no problem picking the winners in the two divisions, as the odds-on favourite prevailed in both instances.
C Lulujustlikethis got the job done in gate-to-wire fashion in the first division for driver Patrick Richer and trainer Lucille Gauthier. The Modern Art-Queen From Omaha lass led through panels of :30.3, 1:02.3 and 1:32.2 before turning on the jets in the lane en route to notching the 2:02 score over Silent Terror and Majesty Hanover.
Gauthier of Saint-Marthe-Sur-Le-Lac and Jean Guy Martineau of Deux-Montagnes, Quebec share ownership on the first-time starter, who was a $6,000 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale. She was sent off as the even-money choice in the five-filly affair.
In the second split, C M T Farms’ homebred Kinky Grin went coast-to-coast in a time of 2:01.3 for trainer/driver Jason Gilchrist. The Grinfromeartoear-Viking Sunshine miss laid down fractions of :30, 1:02.2 and 1:33.2 before sprinting home in :28.1 to seal the deal over Zoes Turn and Stonehouse Rustler. It was the first lifetime start for the youngster, who delivered on her 2-5 pari-mutuel promise.
The Monday evening program also saw a six-pack of the track’s top older pacer’s clash in the weekly edition of the $12,100 Preferred. And once again the Rideau Carleton handicappers were bang on, as they watched Legacy N Diamonds deliver on his 3-5 pari-mutuel promise.
The four-year-old son of The Panderosa rushed to the lead shortly after the mid-way point of the mile for driver Darrell Coville, who urged his charge to the three-quarter length decision over Match Bayama in 1:54.3. Imjustalittleguy rounded out the top three. John MacMillan, who sent out three winners on Rideau’s 15-race program, conditions Legacy N Diamonds for owner Percy Elkins of Campbellville, Ontario. It was the pacer’s fifth win of the season, and his 11th lifetime tally. He has banked more than $395,000 to date.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click here.