Crossfit by a head at Rideau

Crossfit (Donato Hanover) showed his harness racing strength with a late lunge to nab Raising Rusty at the line and win the Preferred-Handicap Trot at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Sep. 14).

He was the first to pull the trigger as the field traveled single-file behind leader Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot for first-half panels of :27.2 and :56.4. Crossfit progressed on the rim for Guy Gagnon and raced through three-quarters in 1:25.1 at the pacesetter’s flank.

Raising Rusty clung to his one-length advantage as they rounded the final turn, but Crossfit wore him down as they approached the finish. Crossfit produced a final surge and put his head past Raising Rusty’s for the win in 1:55.

Black Tie Bash (Robert Shepherd) followed the top two home for third.

CROSSFIT REPLAY

Crossfit is two-for-three for new connections since Aug. 31. John Hopkins of Ottawa acquired the gelding last month and sent him to trainer Mandy Archer. The seven-year-old’s Thursday win was his 30th lifetime in 156 starts. It upped his career earnings to $329,967.

Gagnon’s win with Crossfit was one of four on the day. He teamed up with Archer to win the opener with Speaker Nancy (Artspeak, 1:53.4) and scored twice with his own trainees, D A Temptation (Sportswriter, 1:54) and Beach Journey (Net Ten Eom, 1:54.3).

Rideau Carleton Raceway continues its season with an 11-race program on Sunday, Sep. 17.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink