On Sunday night (March 31), a pair of trainers took the lion's share of the 11-race Rideau card, with reigning leading trainer Mandy Archer and Marc-Andre Simoneau each with training triples.
Archer teamed up with Guy Gagnon for the first of her three wins, scoring in front-end fashion against non-winners of $3,000 company with Allstar Cheddar. After facing pressure from Howmac Victor and Ryan Guy throughout the middle half, the 4-5 favourite pulled away to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:55. The win in the four-year-old debut boosted the career bankroll to $30,782 for the gelded son of Betterthancheddar-Debutante Divorcee who is owned by Kenneth Albrecht.
Robert Shepherd was in the bike to provide Archer with her second win on the card aboard Speaker Nancy. The 1-5 favourite delivered with a two-length, front-stepping victory in 1:55.1 over Lady Carona and Pascal Berube. Speaker Nancy is yet to taste defeat though two starts in 2024 for owners Jamie Copley and Ottawabob Racing Stable. The five-year-old daughter of Artspeak-Lets Imagine is now a 13-time winner for her career, sporting lifetime earnings of $226,129.
Gagnon was once again in the bike for Archer to put the finishing touches on not just her hat trick on the evening, but his as well on the driving side with Jadensmagicsteel. After taking command prior to the half, Jadensmagicsteel found himself in a deep stretch duel with Montysgonemarble and Stephane Brosseau. Jadensmagicsteel dug in gamely to prevail by a head in 1:54.1 for his first victory of the season through two starts. A 19-time winner for his career, the six-year-old gelded son of Steelhead Hanover-Meridian Magic has now banked $129,988 for owners Barry and Ruben Martin.
Not to be outdone, Marc-Andre Simoneau teamed up with driver Pascal Berube for three wins on a card during which Berube secured a grand slam. Nine-year-old vet Proberts Legacy provided the first of those victories, converting a pocket trip to a four-length 1:56.3 victory as the 5-2 second choice against non-winners of $400 per start in their last 10 company. Owned by Simoneau along with Desjardins Noreau Stable, the gelded son of Dali has now banked $146,090 for his career.
Berube carried the torch on the front end with Light The Torch, who was a front-end victor in non-winners of $6,000 company. After taking command beyond the quarter pole, Light The Torch had enough left in the tank to fend off Make It Come True and Guy Gagnon, who stalked the pacesetter from the pocket, by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.3. The victory was the first in 2024 to go along with a pair of runner-up finishes through three starts this season. The four-year-old son of Always B Miki-Surfer Chick has now banked $47,374 in his career for owners Simoneau and Jean Fontaine.
Beauty Is Blind turned out the lights in the Sunday night cap to complete Simoneau's triple. Berube landed in third in the early stages before going on the offensive in the middle half first up. Beauty Is Blind took command on the far turn and didn't look back, storming home to a 2-1/2 victory in 1:55.4 over Beach Journey and Guy Gagnon. Yet another winner on the card for sire Betterthancheddar, Beauty Is Blind is a two-time winner in 2024, now with career earnings of $186,857 for owners Simoneau, Fontaine and Desjardins Noreau Stable.
The Sunday card saw bettors pump $666,329 through the windows, the second highest wagering handle in the history of Rideau Carleton Raceway.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)