Fix A Drink shakes loose in Rideau Preferred

Fix A Drink (Angus Hall) broke into the Preferred ranks at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday (Oct. 26) as he won the harness racing track’s top-class event for the first time.

The gelding, starting from post two for Jimmy Gagnon, tussled with Preferred mainstay Raising Rusty (Stephane Pouliot) to the quarter in :28 and won the battle of wills to keep command. The field of four went to the half single-file in :58.3 and remained the same until Crossfit made a move from last at three-quarters in 1:27.3.

Crossfit was never able to truly threaten, and Raising Rusty came up empty from the pocket, leaving Fix A Drink to motor home to a three-length victory in 1:56.2.

Raising Rusty finished second with Crossfit alongside. The latter was disqualified though, due to an extended break, and Mask Of Zoro (Stephane Brosseau) was promoted to third.

FIX A DRINK REPLAY

The win was a seasonal mark for Mix A Drink and his fifth win of the year. The gelding has bounced between Hippodrome Trois-Rivieres and Rideau Carleton and previously finished third in the latter’s top level. Pierre Leclerc trains the six-year-old and co-owns him with breeder Shaun Baines of Mono. Fix A Drink is now 16-for-64 lifetime with earnings of $77,576.

Gagnon won two more races on the night to complete a triple. Fellow driver Robert Shepherd matched his tally.

Rideau Carleton Raceway will host action next on Sunday, Oct. 29.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink