Victor Puddy played his cards and pulled three in a row after his trainees won races two, three, and four on the Sunday (Sept. 15) evening card at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Skylar (pictured above) was the first on deck in an $8,500 conditioned pace with Jimmy Gagnon holding the lines for Puddy. The eight-year-old gelding left early from post two and never looked back through quarters in :27.3, :57.3, and 1:25.1. With a final quarter in :27.2, Skylar was home free by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52.3. Stablemate Lovemyrockinbird (Ryan Guy) finished second over Shotgun Jerry (Stephane Pouliot).
Limco Inc owns Skylar (Rockin Image - Courtster), who notched his ninth win of the year and 30th career victory. In 161 starts, Skylar showcases $233,059 banked. He returned $8.60 to win.
In race three, a $5,600 conditioned pace, Ready For Fun was ready indeed, charging home to win by a neck at the wire in 1:57. Jimmy Gagnon was in the bike for the second Puddy victory. The sophomore Mcwicked - Regally Ready filly is owned by Hutt Racing Stable as she earned her first career victory. She paid $9.30 to win.
Giddy Up Max and William Roy rounded out the natural hat trick for Puddy, yielding a one length triumph in 1:55.2 in the $5,200 conditioned pace. David Shea owns the Bettors Delight - Film Critic seven-year-old gelding. He notched his third win of the year and 16th career victory. He returned $2.90 to win.
Puddy has 2,586 career training victories to go along with $19.4 million in earnings. He currently sits third in the trainer standings at Rideau with 40 wins.
I Ama Rocket lived up to his name after he rocketed to a one length victory in 1:52.1 in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace with trainer Guy Gagnon in the bike.
Gagnon sent I Ama Rocket to the front from post five. Through the opening :26.4 quarter, Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) held down the pylon control while I Ama Rocket was caught on the outside at the first pole. The gelding slipped into the lead along the pylons and pressed on with a one length lead through the :56 half and 1:23.3 three-quarters. With a :28.3 final fraction, I Ama Rocket maintained his lead to win by a measured length in 1:52.1. Aladdin finished second and Day Delight (Jimmy Gagnon) maneuvered late through traffic to take the show spot.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Custard The Dragon - Machs Rocket is owned by Louise Ricard. With one other win in the Preferred column this season, I Ama Rocket recorded his fifth win of 2024. His third career Preferred win, the gelding has 40 career wins and pushed his earnings to $403,621. He paid $5.30 as the bettors' choice.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)