Rocky Boy and Viper Select pulled off a pair of mild upsets in the Sunday night (July 17) co-features at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Rocky Boy wired the field in the $6,500 Winners Over Handicap Trot while Viper Select came from off the pace to steal the spotlight in the matching pacing division.
The trotters were up first and Rocky Boy ($14.60) scored easily in front-end fashion with Jacques Beaudoin aboard for trainer Johanne Begin and owners Marc Belanger and Stephane Beaudoin. The seven-year-old Rocky Balboa gelding left from the inside post position and led the short field of five with one gate breaker through fractions of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:27.2 on his way to a two-length victory in 1:56.4. Favourite Unabating closed outside of What A Rush and defeated that foe for the second-place honours.
Driven by Guy Gagnon for owner/trainer Denis Guindon, Viper Select ($16.80) got away sixth from the trailing tier in the Winners Over Handicap Pace and launched his three-wide attack at the third quarter to prevail in 1:53.3 by one and three-quarter lengths. The 11-year-old Dauntless Bunny gelding wore down pacesetter A And C Artist (:27.1, :55.3, 1:24.1), who held on for second over the pocket-pulling Aarons Mattjesty. Mr Massimo was fourth while favourite Meersburg ended up fifth after following the winner's wide-sweeping move from the backfield.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.