Gagnon supreme in Rideau re-open

Guy Gagnon was in his usual top form at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday as the harness racing track’s leading driver returned with a seven-win performance in its re-opening day after a two-month shutdown.

He was unbeaten through four dashes to begin the evening, but the highlight of his day came in the Preferred Trot co-feature as he drove Seeyou Men, a horse he also trains, to a resounding victory.

Seeyou Men had to work for the early lead with two other keen leavers also seeking the top spot, but he acquired the it before completing the first quarter mile in :27.4. The rest was academic as the gelding cruised through fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.3 while pulling away from the eight others and jogged to a five-length score in 1:56.

Franks Angel (Marie Claude Auger) made up six positions to finish second, and Severus Hanover (Richard Simard) was close behind in third. The winner paid $3.40.

SEEYOU MEN REPLAY

Seeyou Men, a nine-year-old son of Muscle Mass, has 31 victories in 137 starts and $333,287 in career bankroll. Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel and Chantal Gravel of St-Cyrille-De-Wendover are partners on the gelding.

Gagnon won with three more horses from his own barn and a trio of them from Mandy Archer’s.

The other co-feature, however, was out of his grasp as Springbridge Jim circled past horses in the final quarter and won going away.

Driver Robert Robinson settled for a four-hole spot with the gelding from post two in the early going as two opponents out-left Springbridge Jim and another occupied the third spot. Robinson kept his charge on the cones as the field of six traveled single-file through the quarter in :26.3 and half in :56.4.

Robinson became the first to act as he swung Springbridge Jim to the outside approaching three-quarters in 1:25, and they were in front in a matter of seconds. Springbridge Jim blasted to the lead with a burst of speed and drew away in the stretch to win by three and three quarter lengths in 1:53.

SPRINGBRIDGE JIM REPLAY

Salty Robyn N (Stephane Brosseau) out-kicked the others to take place. Racemup (Marc St. Louis) finished third. A $2 win ticket returned $12.70.

Springbridge Jim has now won six of his 25 career tries and earned $86,305. Andrew Moore, a resident of Russell, oversees the four-year-old Big Jim stallion’s training. Moore co-owns with Allan Moore of Stratford, Tommy Godfrey of Charlottetown, and Charles Farrell of Spencerville.

This was Rideau Carleton’s first card after the track went dark in April due to Ontario’s COVID-19 lockdown. The Gloucester, ON track currently does not allow spectators. Its next program is scheduled for Thursday, Jun. 17 with a 4:00 p.m. EDT first post.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink