Favourites Crossfit ($4.40) and National Debt ($3.10) delivered in their respective $9,200 Preferred Handicap events on Sunday evening's (Sept. 26) 11-race card at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
In the Preferred Handicap Trot, Gordon McDonald and Christopher Boland's Crossfit sprinted to the lead and never looked back, wiring his four rivals in 1:55. Marie-Claude Auger pushed the Vic Puddy trainee from post four to clear Emotions Riches through a :28.4 first quarter before rating a :57.2 half. Up the backstretch, Crossfit repelled a first-over challenge from Westfiftysecond before edging away to a 2-1/2-length win. Ripped And Ready rallied for second over Emotions Riches, who lacked kick from the pocket.
Vic Puddy trains 17-time winner Crossfit, a five-year-old gelded son of Donato Hanover.
National Debt won his third Preferred Pace at Rideau in his last four tries by way of a front-end 1:51.4 score in line to Pascal Bérubé. The 76-time winner used similar tactics to Crossfit, sprinting clear of Ashleysbest through a :27.1 quarter before bracing for a first-over charge from The Light Speed up the backstretch. The 10-year-old Allamerican Native entire shrugged off The Light Speed on the far turn, and then kept a late bid from runner-up Ashleysbest 1-3/4 lengths at bay to win for the 10th time in 18 starts this year.
François Morin owns National Debt, who has earned over $650,000 in his career. All nine of his wins at Rideau this season have come against Preferred company.
Trainer Guy Gagnon continues to assert his dominance in the claiming ranks at Rideau, posting a hat trick with a trio of claiming pacers — all three of whom prevailing as odds-on favourites. Fcee N ($3.20) narrowly won in 1:54, Thundering Jim ($2.60) delivered a devastating seven-length drubbing to his foes in 1:53.4, and Luke And Duke ($3.40) coasted to a 1:54.1 score.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.