Just like last Sunday, Countess Stormont wired her fellow Preferred trotters tonight at Rideau Carleton Raceway to equal her track record and lifetime mark of 1:55.2
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Countess Stormont, driven by Jonathan Drury, laid down opening panels of :27.4 and :57.4 before coming under attack from Hesgotlegs (John MacDonald), who came within a neck of the leader as they raced past three-quarters in 1:26. Countess Stormont was able to shake loose in the stretch and trotted home in :29.2 to prevail by two and a half lengths in a 1:55.2 track record for older trotting mares. Stella Hall (Denis St. Pierre), who sat third for most of the mile, finished second while Hesgotlegs ended up third.
Countess Stormont is trained by Norm Jones for owner and breeder Stormont Meadows of Long Sault, Ont. The popular Kadabra-Lady Orbitex mare returned $3.20 to win for the third consecutive time. She has recorded four wins in 18 starts this season while earning $84,720.
In the matching $14,000 Preferred Pace, front-stepper Imjustalittleguy and trainer-driver Ted McDonald held off Armadilo (John MacDonald), last week’s winner P H Bestman (Stephen Gendron), and favourite Peenie (Denis St. Pierre) for the 1:53.3 victory. The eight-year-old gelded son of Armbro Operative-Armbro Velour, sent postward as the 5-1 fourth choice, notched his fifth win in 22 starts this year and pushed his earnings to $58,750 for owners Lloyd Stone of Portland and Dr. John Tobin of Elgin, Ont.
Rideau's leading driver John MacDonald won six times on 15-race card - three of which were for trainer Ron MacDonald.
To view Sunday's results, click here.