The Light Speed was back on top in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway with a 1:50.4 career-best effort on Sunday night (Aug. 6).
After seeing his summer win-streak snapped when he finished second one week ago in the top class, The Light Speed bounced back and equalled the Canadian season's record for a five-eighths-mile track that Rideau newcomer P L Ozzy put forth last Sunday night.
There was no rematch as P L Ozzy wasn't entered this night, but The Light Speed still faced four other worthy opponents while knocking two-fifths of a second off his lifetime mark.
Among them, Dylans Bank parked Flying Art A at the start and forged ahead to post a :26.2 opening quarter before getting a breather to the half in :55. But The Light Speed and trainer/driver Guy Gagnon swept up from their early position in third down the backstretch to take over command. The popular pacer opened up two lengths to three-quarters in 1:22.4 as Dylans Bank began to tire and maintained that margin through the lane as Mayhem Like Me took up the chase and finished second. Dylans Bank followed more than 10 lengths behind in third.
Offering just five cents on the dollar as the overwhelming bettors' choice, The Light Speed paid $2.10 to win.
Owned and bred by Michel Nolette of Princeville, Que., the five-year-old Moon Beam gelding earned his 11th victory of the season from 16 races, matching his win total from a year ago in less than half the starts. Only 13 other Standardbreds have more wins than The Light Speed this year in all of North America. Lifetime, he's won 38 races and $283,454 in purses.
Gagnon completed the 11-race card with a training triple as he also made winner's circle appearances with Flash Cube (1:53.1) dropping and popping from the Preferred class and Western Phil (1:54.3), who earned his third win in a row. The Gatineau, Que. horseman also picked up another driving victory with the debuting two-year-old pacing filly, Scrivener Hanover (1:56.4), from the Mandy Archer stable.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.