Ripped And Ready strikes again at Rideau

After trading top-level harness racing wins with Seeyou Men and Raising Rusty, Ripped And Ready (Muscle Mass) regained the Rideau Preferred Handicap Trot crown on Thursday (Jun. 16).

The five-year-old stallion sat fourth through opening half fractions of :27.3 and :58.1 for Pascal Berube before moving up to second at three-quarters in 1:26.1 and kicking away to win by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:55.1.

Black Tie Bash (Robert Shepherd) finished second. Cheque The Magic (Ted McDonald) was nearly four lengths behind in third.

Ripped And Ready is now four-for-eight this year, with each start coming in the Rideau Carleton Preferred Handicap Trot. He has won 16 times and earned $181,916 in 48 career tries. Thierry Vandenplas trains him for Dr. Ruth Irving of Russell.

Lightning strikes that hit the track in the afternoon disabled its broadcast, teletimer, judge’s terminal, and ultimately its pari-mutuel capabilities. Management therefore made the decision to race for purse money only.

Driver Samuel Fillion was the day’s most successful with three wins.

The next race card at Rideau Carleton Raceway is scheduled for Sunday, Jun. 19. The action will begin at 6:30 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink