Harness racing in Ontario returns on Tuesday (Feb. 16) at both Rideau Carleton Raceway and The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
The 2021 harness racing season in the nation's capital begins with a 13-race card at Rideau Carleton Raceway, headlined by a pair of $9,200 Preferred events — one on each gait. First post time is 6:30 p.m.
The Preferred Trot, carded as race 6, shapes up as a rematch between LMC Mass Gem and Pasadena Star, who comprised the exactor in Rideau's final Preferred Trot of 2020. LMC Mass Gem has been installed the 5-2 morning line favourite from post 3 after his Dec. 20 win, and retains the driving services of Jacques Beaudoin for trainer Johanne Begin. Pasadena Star, who lunged from the pocket and missed by only a half length, will start from post 4 for trainer-driver Stéphane Pouliot. Other top contenders include Crossfit (post 2, Marie Claude Auger), who won a top-level Rideau event on Nov. 29 in his first start for trainer Vic Puddy; Seeyou Men (post 7, Guy Gagnon), a winner in Preferred company on Dec. 6; and Woodbine Mohawk Park invader Esquire (post 1, Clarke Steacy).
The Preferred Pace, which is programmed as race 10, shapes up as a competitive affair with many credible contenders. Avatar J has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite, and his versatility is cause enough for the 24-time winner to command respect. After narrow defeats from pacesetting and first-over attempts in his first two December outings, he closed belatedly to miss National Debt by 1-1/2 lengths on Dec. 20. Brosseau retains the driving assignment aboard the seven-year-old American Ideal entire for trainer Mandy Archer. Luke And Duke (post 5, Gagnon) looks to build off a pair of runner-up finishes at the Preferred level, and is the 3-1 second choice. Recent top-level winners Racemup (post 4, Auger) and Vanilla Malted (post 6, Steacy) are among the other key players in the seven-horse field.
Six hundred kilometres to the west and 15 minutes earlier, The Raceway at the Western Fair District is slated to lift the curtain on their 2021 stand with an 11-race card, featuring a pair of $8,800 events sharing
top billing.
The top trot of the evening is an optional claiming event over a mile and a sixteenth, carded as race 5. Zack To The Max, who will start as one of two trailers in the eight-horse field, will look to extend his winning streak to four after a clean sweep of three claiming assignments at Flamboro Downs in December. The five-year-old son of Cantab Hall is the lone entrant to start for the $18,000 tag, and Louis-Philippe Roy assumes the driving duties of the 2-1 morning line choice for trainer Richard Moreau.
Another winning streak is on the line the evening's featured pace (race 6), as Curious Cortez seeks a third straight score after defeating slightly easier conditioned company on Dec. 13 and Dec. 21. Colin Kelly will drive the five-year-old Big Jim gelding in his second start for trainer Jared Bako, and the pair will start from post 2 as the 2-1 favourite. Spectrum Seelster, the 5-2 second choice from the pole, looks to get back on the winning track for trainer Jodie Cullen and driver Travis Cullen after a four-race streak was ended on in a $15,000 claiming event on Dec. 15 at Flamboro.
To view Tuesday's entries, or for past performance pages (courtesy TrackIT), click the links below:
► Rideau Carleton Raceway: Entries | Program Pages
► The Raceway at the Western Fair District: Entries | Program Pages