Victories in Sunday night's co-featured Winners Over Handicap events gave both Maximus Deo ($5.10) and Akoya ($3.50) back-to-back wins at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
In the $6,800 trotting division, the class-climbing Maximus Deo retook the lead after a contested opening quarter and never looked back en route to a two-length victory in 1:56 flat. The five-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding is now perfect in two Rideau starts -- both in rein to Richard Simard -- since joining the Chelsea Knapp stable from Ohio at the end of August. Ill Stay Here advanced first over to secure the runner-up honours and Heres The Magic finished third.
Akoya was a repeat front-end winner in the $6,950 top pacing class for driver Louis-Philippe Roy and owner/trainer Elisabeth Pothier. Rock Fame went head-to-head with Akoya at the third quarter mark, but the six-year-old Electric Stena gelding kicked away down the stretch to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:53.4. Rock Fame settled for second while the Love Bug finished third.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.