Black Tie Bash made his sixth trip to the winner's circle this season after winning the $10,000 Preferred Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (July 27) evening.
Black Tie Bash and Robert Shepherd were the bettors' choice in the evening nightcap, leaving from post five in the field of six top trotters. Last week's feature winner Duke Lavictoire took the early lead and became the pacesetter for the mile. He led the field to the quarter in :27.3 with Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) at his heels and Black Tie Bash back in third. Movement started from the back of the field with Emma Town Bud (Pierre Bovay) first-over from fifth, but the top three starters remained unchanged as they crested the half in :57.1. Black Tie Bash was the next to come off the rail on a first-over advance towards the top as Duke Lavictoire clocked the three-quarters in 1:25.3. Black Tie Bash cleared and kept on rolling to a 3-3/4-length achievement in 1:55. Raising Rusty finished second with Duke Lavictoire rounding out the top three.
Shepherd owns the five-year-old Chapter Seven gelding, who moved his seasonal record to 6-1-1 in nine starts for trainer Isabelle Darveau. It was the 24th win for Black Tie Bash, who moved his career bankroll to $190,108. He paid $3.10 to win.
Guy Gagnon posted a training triple with D A Temptation (1:54.1; $3.80), Vicious Aloicious (1:55.3; $5.60) and Spectrum Seelster (1:54.2; $5.30), each driven to victory by himself.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.