Michel Nolette’s sophomore homebred The Light Speed scored another victory at the top class at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday (Dec. 26), ringing his streak in the $10,500 Preferred Pace to four in a row.
Starting from the outermost post in the sextet, trainer-driver Guy Gagnon landed the Moon Beam gelding last while Racemup led the field to the quarter in :27 with 2-5 choice National Debt sitting the pocket. Gagnon got underway with The Light Speed into a :56.2 half and caught cover from National Debt to three-quarters in 1:25. Off the final turn, the race turned into a two-horse contest between the dominant horses this season at Rideau’s top class. National Debt dug in to hold the lead all through the stretch, but The Light Speed had just enough to edge a neck in front and win in a 1:54.2 mile. The Regulator finished third.
Winning his 15th race from 25 starts this season and his 17th from 36 overall, The Light Speed has banked $107,859. He paid $5.60 to win.
Trainer Anne Marie Turenne scored a hat trick on the 14-race card, capped by a victory with Fit Bitt in the $10,500 Preferred Handicap Trot.
Driver Jim Gagnon hustled Fit Bitt for the front from post 4 to a :27.3 first quarter and cruised to a :57.4 half as Crossfit committed to race first over. He applied pressure to the tempo-setter and even took a narrow lead by three-quarters in 1:26.4 until losing ground around the turn. Fit Bitt regained control into the straightaway and strolled home to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4 over Crossfit, who just held off third-place finisher Seeyou Men and fourth-place finisher and even-money favourite Black Tie Bash.
A four-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass, Fit Bitt won his fifth race from 31 starts this season and his eighth from 54 overall, earning $108,962. Keith Cassell owns the $14.60 winner.
Turenne’s other victories came with Hardy Mill Joe ($32.80), who won from off the pace in Race 5, and Stormy Hall GB ($5.90), who won going coast-to-coast in Race 11.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.