Trainer-driver Guy Gagnon, who conditioned four winners on the 11-race card, toured the Rideau Carleton oval with his three-year-old Moon Beam gelding The Light Speed to take the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Pace going gate to wire in 1:52.1 on Sunday (Aug. 29).
Gagnon fired the 2-5 favourite from post 6 and posted early fractions of :27.1 and :56.2 before facing mild pressure from The Regulator into a backstretch sprint. The Light Speed clicked three-quarters in 1:23.3 and continued into the final turn to win by 1-1/4 lengths over a closing Shadow Margeaux. Avatar J skimmed the pylons for third.
A homebred for Michel Nolette, The Light Speed won his eighth race from 10 starts this season and his 10th from 21 overall, earning $46,669. He paid $2.50 to win.
Gagnon’s other three wins came towards the tail of the card. He took the eighth race with Mortgage My Villa ($2.40) before sweeping the late Daily Double with Fcee N ($5.20) and Luke And Duke ($5.40).
Magic Night cruised to a wire-to-wire score in the $9,200 Preferred Handicap Trot. The seven-year-old Kadabra gelding took the lead to a :28.2 first quarter, slowed the tempo to a :58 half and accelerated to the backside as Richsnortherndream came rolling first over to three-quarters in 1:26.2. All the while Magic Night maintained command to the finish of a 1:55.1 mile, finishing 1-1/2 lengths better than pocket-sitter Crossfit. Richsnortherndream held on for third.
Owned by trainer Yannick Martel along with Ghislaine Fontaine, Magic Night won his third race from 19 starts this season and his 22nd from 132 overall, earning $380,440. Sam Fillion drove the $3.90 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.