The Light Speed flashed his speed once again on Sunday at Rideau Carleton Raceway, winning the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, which highlighted the 10-race card, in front-stepping fashion. Meanwhile, leading trainer Mandy Archer put on a show of her own with four training victories on the night.
Leaving from post four in the field of five at the 1-5 choice, driver/trainer Guy Gagnon utilized The Light Speed's signature gate speed to get around Light The Torch (Pascal Berube) for the lead at the quarter in :27.1. The field showed their respect to The Light Speed on the engine, racing single-file to the half in :57 before Early Action (Ryan Guy) surged from fourth to move alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:25.
The lead pair slugged it out on the final turn before Early Action briefly went off stride turning for home, allowing The Light Speed to reach the top of the stretch 1-3/4 lengths clear. Light The Torch began to find his best stride in the lane, surging up the passing lane from the pocket to take his shot at The Light Speed late. The two paced to the wire together with The Light Speed fending off Light The Torch by a head on the wire in 1:53. Revolt (Robert Shepherd) finished third.
The Light Speed has won 12 of 25 starts on the year, hitting the board 21 times in 2024. Michel Nolette's homebred six-year-old gelded son of Moon Beam-Jayma sports career earnings of $412,339 following his 57th career victory.
Gagnon steered three winners on the card, including Bandura, who also raced out of the Gagnon barn, along with teaming up with trainer Mandy Archer to win the evening's eighth race aboard Scandia Hannibal in his career debut.
Driver Robert Shepherd got the call on Archer's three other winners on the night. Monteray Jackie and Irresistible each delivered in front-end fashion as race favourites for the duo before Ontheroadtotexas converted a pocket-trip into an 8-1 score in the penultimate race of the evening.
The three driving victories for both Shepherd and Gagnon led all drivers for the 10-race card.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)