Make it four in a row for Montreal Phil in the top class at Rideau Carleton Raceway after jogging to victory in Thursday night's Preferred Handicap Pace
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In rein to regular pilot Gord Brown (who recently surpassed 3,500 wins) for the $13,000 event, favoured Montreal Phil left alertly from the outside post 7 as Best Show In Town (Guy Gagnon) flashed his usual early gate speed to assume command of the field through the :27 opening quarter. Brown was leaving nothing to chance and pulled pocket just past the quarter as the field passed the grandstand to control the tempo.
Montreal Phil and Brown dictated the pace, stealing a :58 middle half to hit three-quarters in 1:25 before opening up the throttle around the final turn. With more than three lengths on the field at the top of the stretch, Brown sat chilly in the bike for the 1:55.4 score nearly four lengths ahead of Haul Away (Kyle Forgie) and Best Show In Town.
Guy Corbeil trains Montreal Phil (Blissfull Hall - Matter Of Style) for Hudson Standardbred Stb Inc. of Hudson, Quebec. The seven-year-old gelding now boasts 10 wins and $80,000 in purses for the 2011 campaign.
Trainer Colin Johnson scored a training hat-trick, sweeping the Daily Double with Warrawee Nonsuch in Race 1 and Ivanhoe Diamant in Race 2 then connecting again in Race 12 with No More Credit.
For results from Thursday night's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results - Rideau Carleton.