Shepherd and Darveau dominate Rideau

Harness racing driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Isabelle Darveau capped off an excellent evening at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Jul. 7) with a Preferred Handicap victory.

Shepherd dropped Black Tie Bash (Chapter Seven) back into fifth position as Seeyou Men (Guy Gagnon) protected pylon position at the front in a :27.1 opening quarter. The heavily-favoured Ripped And Ready, arguably Rideau’s top trotter this season, never settled on the inside and climbed to the top prior to completing the half in :56.4.

Black Tie Bash begun to roll out of fifth nearing the midway point and received the cover of Fit Bitt (Jimmy Gagnon) on the trip to three-quarters in 1:25.3. Shepherd pushed the three-wide button on the final turn, and his gelding soared by Ripped And Ready with racetrack to spare for the 1:54.1 score.

Ripped And Ready kept Seeyou Men at bay for second. Correct win tickets returned $15.

BLACK TIE BASH REPLAY

Shepherd owns Black Tie Bash. Darveau took over the four-year-old’s training at the end of last season and has harnessed him for three wins. The gelding is now eight-for-46 lifetime and has earned $94,668.

The win was Shepherd’s fifth of the day. He also steered Premier Star (Bettors Delight, 1:56.1), The Wheel (Wheeling N Dealin, 1:57.2), Daddys Eyes (Mr Brightside, 1:54.3), and Blockbuster Trade (Sportswriter, 1:53.2) to wins.
Darveau trained The Wheel and Blockbuster Trade, giving her a training triple.

Also on the card, two-year-old Langley Seelster (Sunshine Beach-Legacy) defeated her two-year-old pacing rivals on debut. The filly rallied at the pylons after a pocket trip and held off the gaining Gritty (Heston Blue Chip, Stephane Brosseau) for the win. Beddanburg (Artspeak) finished third.

LANGLEY SEESLTER REPLAY

Gagnon drives and trains the filly. His Ecuries Guy Gagnon combined with Gestion Louis Latulippe of St-Ferreol-Les-Neiges to purchase her for $26,000 at the London Selected Sale. The filly is the sixth winner out of Art Major mare Legacy, who has produced three six-figure earners.

The next card at Rideau Carleton Raceway begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Jul. 10. Three-year-old trotting colts will contest four divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots second leg.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink