The front held well in the features at Rideau Carlton Raceway Sunday, July 29, with Bestofbest Hanover wiring the field in the $8,100 Preferred Pace and Pasadena Star in the $8,100 Preferred Trot.
Bestofbest Hanover, a $13.90 winner, controlled the pace through fractions of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:25.2. Cobalt Man, the odds-on favourite, moved first over heading to the half and drew towards the leader through the backstretch and into the homestretch, coming a neck shy of victory while Stonebridge Beach, off a pocket trip, finished third.
A 10-year-old by Western Hanover from the Precious Bunny mare Bunny Lake, Bestofbest Hanover is owned by trainer-driver Melanie Plourde. He won his fourth race in 19 starts this season and his 34th in 183 overall, earning $674,958.
Trainer-driver Stephane Pouliot went gate to wire with favourite Pasadena Star in the trot in 1:56.3. The seven-year-old gelding by Kadabra kept Unabating wide through a :28 opening quarter before kicking to a two length lead heading to the half, timed in :58. Unabating chased from second as Majestic Kat matched strides from first over four-lengths behind Pasadena Star through three-quarters in 1:26.4. Neon Lights, from second over, kicked off cover into the stretch and cut into his deficit, finishing two-and-a-quarter lengths behind Pasadena Star while Y S Suzanne rallied from third over for third.
Owned by 9096 9205 Quebec Inc., Pasadena Star won his fourth race in 21 starts and his 29th in 124 overall, earning $340,423. He paid $4.50 to win.
Alongside the Preferreds, round two for the Hard Rocking Gents Claiming Series was contested, with Sportsranger winning the first division going nearly wire to wire in 1:54.2.
Taking control from Bazinga Brad through a :27.1 opening quarter, Sportsranger maintained the top as Machapelo, the odds-on favourite, parked first over through a :56 half and 1:25 three-quarters. Despite staying wide the whole mile, Machapelo dug into the pacesetter and finished a half-length behind in second. Craven The Beach, from last, finished four lengths back in third.
A six-year-old gelding by Sportswriter out of the Intrepid Seelster mare Dangerous Waters, Sportsranger, owned by trainer Matthew McDonald, won his fourth race in 21 starts and his 10th in 93 overall, earning $63,783. Driven by Brett MacDonald, he paid $6.70 to win.
Bet I Can Fly rushed off cover to win the second division in 1:56. The Guy Gagnon-trained-and-driven gelding by Fly Fly Buckeye sat fourth as Acefourtyfourxman raced unpressured on the lead through splits of :27 and :57.1. Bettim Chris, first over after the half, gained ground while towing Bet I Can Fly into contention second over and took a narrow lead as Acefourtyfourxman folded following a 1:26.2 third-quarter.
Fanning off cover, Bet I Can Fly soared to a three-length lead while favourite Playin For Keeps chased from the pocket and Arukiddinmister rallied from third over into third.
Owned by Louison Morin, Bet I Can Fly won his sixth race in 21 starts this season and his ninth in 76 overall, earning $59,402. He paid $6.40 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carlton Raceway.