The Light Speed went back-to-back in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, July 20, prevailing in a tight finish on a track rated good.
Saddled with the outer post eight, he was parked out early until finding a seat fourth before the quarter in :27 provided by longshot leader Duck Dynasty (Stephane Pouliot). Duck Dynasty put up a half of :55.3 with pressure from the parked-out Beef N Cheddar (Jason Gilchrist), who provided cover to The Light Speed as Guy Gagnon moved him off the pylons coming onto the backstretch.
The Light Speed went three-wide midway down the backside and stepped around Duck Dynasty before three-quarters in 1:24.1, turning for home with the lead. Mythic Gambler (Robert Shepherd), after a three-wide move of his own, chased The Light Speed on the outside coming into the stretch with Shotgun Jerry (Melanie Plourde) moving to the inside for the stretch drive. Mythic Gambler gained all the way home, but The Light Speed toughed it out and found the line in time to win by a neck in 1:53.1. Shotgun Jerry finished third. The win price was $4.40.
The Light Speed tallied his seventh win in the Rideau top class this season and improved to eight-for-19 overall for trainer Guy Gagnon. The seven-year-old son of Moon Beam-Jayma has won 68 times and earned $495,989 in 152 lifetime outings for owner/breeder Michel Nolette of Princeville, Que.
Trainer Jennifer McBride celebrated her first victory in the seventh race as Perfect Daliance won at 5-1. Driver Gagnon pulled the nine-year-old Dali-Perfect Wife mare out of third on the backstretch, and she soared to the front en route to a 2-1/4-length victory in 1:57.1. Sports Jacket (Pascal Berube) finished second, followed by Seaurat Hanover (Marie-Claude Auger).
For McBride, it was her first win in 54 starts. The Almonte, Ont. resident debuted last season when she sent out Bet Till Dawn on March 24. She has recorded seven place finishes and three thirds in addition to Sunday's victory. Perfect Daliance, a 10-time career winner in 147 starts, won in his 15th attempt for the trainer.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)