Trainers Guy Gagnon and Victor Puddy dominated the 11-race card at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday night (Aug. 7), with both winning three races and Gagnon scoring a win in the $10,500 Preferred Handicap Pace.
Gagnon floated The Light Speed off the wings to sit fourth while Springbridge Jim pushed for the lead from the pylons to a :26.4 first quarter. The Light Speed then came calling first up after Sunny Bo circled to the lead heading to a :55.3 half and then kept pressing forward to challenge the new pacesetter to three-quarters in 1:23.3. Straightening for home, The Light Speed powered by Sunny Bo and extended to a 1-1/4-length win over St Lads Cash, who dashed through the open stretch for second. Major Hill rallied for third and Sunny Bo faded to fourth.
The Light Speed, a homebred for Michel Nolette, has now won eight races from 22 starts this season and 25 from 58 overall and earned $172,854. The four-year-old Moon Beam gelding paid $2.40 to win and was the second of Gagnon’s three winners with the other two being Western Phil ($2.40) and Cutting Class ($2.50).
Conditioner Victor Puddy’s hat trick started after Gagnon’s successes. Puddy’s first win came in Race 6 with Thankyaverymuch ($5) and completed the hat trick with wins by Midnight Mood ($9.30) and Mayhem Like Me ($9.30).
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.