Trainer Victor Puddy sent the winners in both the $9,200 Preferred Pace and $9,200 Preferred Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (July 4) on a night that also saw leading driver Guy Gagnon win six of the 12 races.
Gagnon and Puddy teamed to take the Preferred Pace in a gate-to-wire score with Racemup in 1:52.3. The 6-year-old Whatayasay gelding grabbed the lead to a :26.3 opening quarter and slowed the tempo to a :56.4 half, prompting Vegas Rocks to take a shot first over. Vegas Rocks ranged to within a length of the lead as the tempo quickened to three-quarters in 1:24.2, but Racemup turned that challenger and the rest away in the final quarter. The odds-on choice coasted to the line 2 1/2 lengths better than pocket sitter Stonebridge Beach while Salty Robyn N took third.
Owned by Gordon Mc Donald and Christopher Boland, Racemup won his third race from 11 starts this season and his 24th from 101 overall, earning $243,962. He paid $3.10 to win.
Puddy then sent driver Ryan Guy behind the 5-year-old Donato Hanover gelding Crossfit to best Gagnon’s charge and 4-5 favourite Seeyou Men in the Preferred Handicap Trot.
Seeyou Men took the lead to a :27.4 first quarter before yielding control to Vero Amore Bi by the stands with a lap to go. Crossfit meanwhile raced third and got shuffled to a :57.2 half but continued to cruise from the three hole. Vero Amore Bi took the field to three-quarters in 1:25.4 but began to tire into the final turn, where Guy readied Crossfit for home. Off the turn, Crossfit kicked to the center of the course and closed quickest of all to nail Seeyou Men at the finish in 1:55.1 by three-quarter lengths while Flying Isa N finished third.
Also owned by Gordon Mc Donald and Christopher Boland, Crossfit won his second race from nine starts this season and his 14th from 59 overall, earning $161,734. He paid $28.10 to win.
Gagnon’s six-win evening began in the first race, where he piloted Wildcat Cam ($5.80) to a wire-to-wire win in 1:54.4. He then won with Umpire Hanover ($2.50) before steering three of his own pupils to victory – The Light Speed ($3.50) in Race 5, Its Eds Idea ($3.00) in Race 7 and Matts Tuition ($3.80) in Race 10.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.