Quebec champ upset at Rideau

Sauble Amber (Betterthancheddar) beat odds-on favourite Ladycorona, a 2023 Trophee des Eleveurs champion, in the featured harness racing pace on Thursday (May 2) at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Michel Lagace started Sauble Amber fourth in the five-horse field and maintained position through the first-half fractions of :28.1 and :58. The mare pulled out entering the backstretch and made headway on leader Speaker Nancy (Robert Shepherd) with Ladycorona on her back second-over.

Sauble Amber pulled within a length of the lead at three-quarters in 1:26.2 and went right on by Speaker Nancy on the final turn. Ladycorona became the new danger entering the lane, but Sauble Amber held her off handily to score in 1:54.

Ladycorona was beaten a length in second. D A Temptation (Guy Gagnon) out-finished the rest for show. The winner returned $11.90 as the fourth choice.

SAUBLE AMBER REPLAY

Sauble Amber moved to the Ottawa circuit in late March after spending her entire career in southern Ontario. Michel Lagace owns and trains the mare, now a 17-time winner in 78 starts with $155,956 in career earnings. Thursday’s victory was her third of the season.

The next card at Rideau Carleton Raceway is set for Sunday, May 5 with a first post of 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink