Strong Hope converted from the pocket to win the $13,000 Preferred Handicap Trot featured on the Saturday afternoon harness racing program at Rideau Carleton
Raceway.
With Planet Earth scratched sick, the field was reduced to four and Sos Breezer (Guy Gagnon) was able to move in one starting spot to Post 2 before firing to the front. He carved out fractions of :29.1, 1:00.1 and 1:29.1 with inside assignee Strong Hope and driver Denis St. Pierre, a four-time winner on the card, following from the pocket.
Star Ruffnready (Rheo Filion), the 3-5 favourite, advanced from fourth to apply pressure into the stretch, but Strong Hope zipped up the rail to prevail in 1:58.3 by one length. Star Ruffnready was second on the outside with Sos Breezer third in between.
Sent postward as the longest shot on the board at odds of 5-1, Strong Hope paid $13.60 to win. The four-year-old son of Cr Excalibur-Spring Lane Joanie is trained by Tiffanee Staley for owner Gestion R. Zane Inc. of Lachine, Que. The win was the former New York Sires Stakes competitor's fourth in 15 starts this year and pushed his earnings to $28,720 for 2011 and $311,555 lifetime.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.