Black Tie Bash kept under the radar in the first half before making his move as a threat in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Trot on Thursday (Oct. 12) evening at Rideau Carleton Raceway. The Isabelle Darveau trainee demanded control in the early part of the second half before winning by a comfortable two lengths.
Duke Lavictoire (Pascal Berube) was the pacesetter for the mile and set the first panel in :27. Black Tie Bash and Robert Shepherd got away fifth in the pack from post seven. Shepherd pulled on his right line to be the first on the outside, but stayed in fifth through the half-mile marker in :56.1. By the three-quarters in 1:25.4, Black Tie Bash covered a lot of ground and made his way up to second on the outside. In the final turn, he assumed control and kept on going down the lane to win by two lengths in 1:55.3. Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) took third and Duke Lavictoire rounded out the top three.
Black Tie Bash is a five-year-old gelded son of Chapter Seven and the Kadabra mare Daylon Mermaid. Shepherd owns the winner of 27 races and $213,708 in career earnings. This season, Black Tie Bash has won nine races in 17 starts to go along with three seconds and four thirds, all at the Preferred level. He paid $4 to win as the even odds favourite.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.