National Debt collects another Preferred

National Debt passed all four opponents in the Rideau Carleton Raceway harness racing Preferred on Sunday for the 10-year-old journeyman’s 70th lifetime win and second straight Preferred score.

Regular driver Pascal Berube dropped him behind the leaving pack from post five and observed an early speed duel between Thrilling Times (Marie-Claude Auger) and Stonebridge Beach (Stephane Pouliot). The former took sole command of the race as they finished the first quarter mile in :27.

National Debt swung to the outside passing three-eighths and caught the cover of Racemup (Guy Gagnon). Those two advanced on the outside through the half in :56.3, and Racemup raced alongside Thrilling Times to three-quarters in 1:24.2. National Debt, rallying after falling behind his cover, fanned three-wide as they entered the stretch and sailed by both to take the victory in 1:53.2.

Thrilling Times battled back to steal place at the finish from Racemup, who was relegated to third.

NATIONAL DEBT REPLAY

National Debt, a 10-year-old Allamerican Native stallion, paid $2.60 to win in his 206th career start. Yves Tessier trains the horse for Francois Morin of Beauceville.

Vero Amore Bi brushed, crushed, and surprised the betting public as he won the co-featured Preferred Handicap at 25-1.

Owner, trainer, and driver Mike Healey worked the stallion into the three-hole after starting from the second tier. Vero Amore Bi held position past the quarter in :28.3 but rolled first-over following three-eighths and stepped around Cloud Nine Hanover (Trevor McDonald) to grab the front after the half in :59.

Healey upped the tempo going to the third quarter in 1:27.1 and kicked away by three lengths going into the stretch. Magic Night (Samuel Fillion) made a futile late bid, but Vero Amore Bi strode to the finish and cued a fist pump from Healey as the pair crossed the line victoriously in 1:56.4.

Magic Night took place. Lestenpercent, who defeated the winner in the previous week, finished third.

VERO AMORE BI REPLAY

Vero Amore Bi has now won 25 times in 86 lifetime appearances. The seven-year-old entire by Manofmanymissions has earned $232,499. Healey, a Gatineau resident, took sole ownership of the horse on Mar. 22.

Guy Gagnon led all drivers on the evening with four victories. Two of his tallies were aboard horses trained by Mandy Archer, who won three as a conditioner.

Rideau Carleton Raceway will host live racing again on Thursday, Jul. 1.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink