Raising Rusty raises class, lowers mark

Raising Rusty (Kadabra) upset top Rideau Carleton Raceway harness racing trotters on Thursday (Jun. 9) as the gelding stepped up from the conditioned ranks and beat seven of them in the Preferred Handicap in lifetime-best time.

The gelding dropped in third for the :28 first quarter mile and grabbed the cover of parked-out favourite Ripped And Ready (Pascal Berube) as the field approached the half in :57.1. Stephane Pouliot kept Raising Rusty second-over through three-quarters in 1:26 and waited until straightening for home to fan into open racetrack.

Ripped And Ready pulled himself into the lead in mid-stretch, but Raising Rusty spoiled his day with a late charge to win by a neck in 1:55.2. Ripped And Ready was valiant in defeat. Seeyou Men (Guy Gagnon) finished third.

The winner was worth $40.20 on a $2 ticket.

RAISING RUSTY REPLAY

Pouliot trains the winner for a numbered Quebec company. The victory was Raising Rusty’s second of the season and 18th in a 76-start career to date that is worth $95,403. He began the season in the Rideau Carleton top class before making a string of starts in high-level conditions. The class spike came off his first win of the year last week.

Also on the card, Scarletts Bigbeach (Big Jim) continued her phenomenal rookie season with a seventh win in 12 tries. The three-year-old filly went all the way in the third race in her best time so far, 1:55.4. Mandy Archer conditions her for Dean Larkin of Edwards and Jody Sanderson of Cornwall.

Archer dominated the card with four winners – Scarletts Bigbeach, Coco Beach De Vie (1:55), Some Bettors Do (1:57), and Saulsbrook Raptor (1:55.3).

Gagnon had a grand slam in the bike,

A Preferred Handicap highlights Rideau Carleton Raceway’s next card, which is set for Sunday, Jun. 12 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink