Nine trotters lined the gate in the Preferred Handicap at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Aug. 31) and Crossfit came out on top to take home the winner's share of the $10,000 purse.
Guy Gagnon and the Mandy Archer trainee were picked for second as they settled into post five in the nightcap. Leaving out of the gate, Duke Lavictoire (Pascal Berube) was the first to claim the rail real estate in the lead and was followed by El Bleu (Stephane Brosseau) and Crossfit in third on the outside. After the :28.2 opening panel, Crossfit retreated to fourth along the pylons while favoured Black Tie Bash (Robert Shepherd) took command to lead the field to the half in :57.2. Gagnon and Crossfit did not sit for long and came back out to make another attempt at the lead by the three-quarters in 1:26. Around the final turn, it was a three-horse race between Crossfit, Duke Lavictoire and Black Tie Bash. Down to the wire, Crossfit won by a half length in 1:55.2. Duke Lavictoire took second and Black Tie Bash was third.
John Hopkins owns the seven-year-old Donato Hanover gelding as he achieved his first win in the first start for the new connections. Crossfit is a winner of $322,467 in career earnings and has made 29 trips to the winner's circle. He paid $9.50 to win.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.