Trainer/driver Stephane Pouliot prevailed in Rideau Carleton Raceway's Sunday co-featured races that were both decided in the final strides with dead-heats among the top finishers.
In the $6,500 Winners Over Handicap Trot, the theme was "ladies first" as the only mare in the field of nine led from start to finish. Driven by Pouliot, Out Of The Hat left from post five and carved out fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:26.2 with Keystone Wyatt and favourite Unabating advancing first and second over. Keystone Wyatt moved up to engage the leader down the stretch with Unabating fanning three-wide into the mix, but Out Of The Hat held on to win by a neck in 1:56.3. Keystone Wyatt and Unabating finished in a dead-heat for second-place.
Sired by Kadabara, Out Of The Hat earned her fourth win in 15 starts this year for owners Meadowgem Farm and 9096 9205 Quebec Inc.
Its A Go prevailed from fourth over in the matching Winners Over Pace, closing on the far outside in a blanket finish to win in 1:54 by half a length. Modern Xhibit was second while favourite D Gs Woodstock, who had led the field through panels of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.3, finished third in a dead-heat with Sovereign Wealth.
Margaret A Brazeau owns the Camluck gelding, who won for the ninth time in 24 starts this year.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following links: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.