Crossfit circles field in Preferred nailbiter

Crossfit (Donato Hanover) lifted himself past all four of his harness racing opponents to capture the Preferred-Handicap by a nose at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Nov. 9).

Guy Gagnon pulled the gelding back as the wings opened and trailed the field to the quarter in :27.4. Fix A Drink (Jimmy Gagnon), winner of the past two Preferred-Handicap Trots, marched to the lead in the second quarter, putting up a :58.1 panel on the wet good surface. He then got Duke Lavictoire (Pascal Berube) for company as they reached the backstretch.

Crossfit pulled out on the backstretch, circled a stalling rival near three-quarters in 1:28 and swung three-wide on the final turn. He marched past the fading Duke Lavictoire before reaching the top of the stretch, but leader Fix A Drink had more left and resisted until the end. Crossfit’s closing speed increased with every stride, and he eclipsed his rival just in time to score in 1:58.2.

Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) got up for third.

CROSSFIT REPLAY

The win was Crossfit’s 32nd in 163 lifetime starts and his 9th of 2023. Victory Puddy trains the seven-year-old, an earner of $346,403, for Gordon McDonald of Ottawa and Christopher Boland of St. Johns.

Racing will continue at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. EST. The track’s top pacers will battle in the Preferred Handicap.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink