Tf Rocketman blasts away in maiden-breaking win

Tf Rocketman (Sportswriter) turned a corner in his rookie harness racing campaign with a dominant victory at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Jul. 15).

The gelding came into the race off consecutive show finishes in his first two career starts at Kawartha Downs. In the Thursday outing, Stephane Brosseau called for early speed, which the gelding supplied and glided to the front in short order.

Tf Rocketman sat on a three-length cushion at the quarter in :28.4 and cruised through :58.2 and 1:27.3 middle fractions. He lit his fuse going into the final panel and fired five-and-a-half lengths in front as he completed the winning mile in 1:56.2.

Watch Her Go (Stephane Pouliot) was best of the rest. Street Art (Donald Jobin) finished third.

TF ROCKETMAN REPLAY

Tf Rocketman is a son of Rocknroll Hanover mare Lets Rock N Roll. John Macmillan of Odessa owns and trains the freshman.

Also on the card, Black Tie Bash (Chapter Seven, Robert Shepherd) captured the Preferred Handicap Trot for the second straight week in 1:55.1. The four-year-old gelding rolled to the lead in the third quarter and scored by two-and-a-quarter lengths over Crossfit (Jimmy Gagnon). Raising Rusty (Pouliot) was third.

BLACK TIE BASH REPLAY

Shepherd owns Black Tie Bash, a nine-time winner in 47 career starts. The Isabelle Darveau trainee has now earned $99,918.

Brosseau had the day’s top driving performance with three wins.

Preferred pacers will square off on Rideau Carleton’s next card, which is set for Sunday, Jul. 17 with a 6:30 p.m. EDT first post.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink