The Sunday (Aug. 4) feature delivered at Rideau Carleton as favourites Jet Rock and The Light Speed couldn't be separated on the wire in the $10,000 Preferred Pace. Meanwhile, Guy Gagnon couldn't be stopped, winning seven of the 11 races on the card.
The Preferred served as the eighth race on the card, seeing Jet Rock (driven by Robert Shepherd) and The Light Speed (Guy Gagnon) leave from post five and six respectively. Off the gate, Shepherd landed Jet Rock in third while The Light Speed settled for the pocket after thinking better of challenging the leading Gator Hanover (Marie-Claude Auger) to a blistering opening quarter of :26.3. The five chasers respected the hot early pace being laid down by Gator Hanover, remaining single file to the half in :54.2. Gagnon popped the pocket and began to go to work in the bike on the backstretch, urging The Light Speed to Auger's wheel at three-quarters in 1:22.4.
On the final turn, The Light Speed took charge to the outside of Gator Hanover while Jet Rock slipped off of the pylons and began his usual rally. The Light Speed turned for home a length clear with Jet Rock gaining with every stride to his outside. The duo went on to hit the wire together in 1:51.1, with the photo finish camera unable to separate the two rivals. Early Action (Ryan Guy) rallied from the backfield to finish third.
Jet Rock is now a three-time winner on the season in 12 starts for trainer Isabelle Darveau, with each of those wins coming within his last four outings. The eight-year-old gelded son of Rocknroll Heaven-Jet Wash is owned by Ecurie CSL, Les Ecuries Dorleans and Roch De Richelieu and has banked $379,705 lifetime.
The victory was the 10th of the season for The Light Speed in his 20th seasonal start. Michel Nolette's homebred son of Moon Beam-Jayma is a 55-time career winner, having banked $395,714 lifetime.
The Light Speed is also trained by Guy Gagnon, who was the winning trainer as well in four of his seven driving victories on the night. The three other winners from the Gagnon barn on the night were Conquest Seelster, I Ama Rocket and Flash Cube who took the finale.
On the catch driving side of things, Gagnon used front-end steers to get the job done in both the first and third with Nosportpunintended and Bauer Power for trainers Michael Armstrong and Gavin Christie respectively. Gagnon's biggest price of the night came aboard the Mandy Archer trained Press Time, who ran away and hid on the lead with Gagnon to win convincingly at 6-1 to pay $15.70 against $8,500 claiming company.
Driver Marie-Claude Auger also had two victories on the Sunday card.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)