Seeyou Men reclaims Rideau crown

Rideau Carleton Raceway stalwart Seeyou Men returned to the track’s winner’s circle on Thursday (May 19) after a tight victory in the Preferred Handicap Trot.

Guy Gagnon put the 10-year-old’s pedal down and rushed him to the front in a :27.4 first quarter mile before Black Tie Bash (Robert Shepherd), a convincing winner in the prior week’s contest, circled to the lead. The latter brought the field of eight through :57 and 1:26 middle fractions and escorted his rivals into the stretch with Seeyou Men full of trot in the pocket.

Gagnon gave his mount room at the pylons and Seeyou Men took off, chasing down the leader and surviving a late thrust from the closing Ripped and Ready (Pascal Berube) for the win in 1:56.1. The latter missed by a head. Black Tie Bash was a length behind the winner.

The win price was $13.50.

Seeyou Men, a Muscle Mass gelding, scored for the 40th time on Thursday in 174 career starts and raised his earnings total to $405,868. Gagnon trains him for Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel and Chantal Gravel of Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover. The gelding has made every start in the Rideau Carleton Raceway top class since Oct. 10, 2021. He has won it six times since then.

Drivers Gagnon, Stephane Brosseau, and Marie-Claude Auger all doubled on the day’s card.

One of Auger’s wins gave trainer Sam Sergi his first win of the season.

Rideau Carleton Raceway resumes action on Saturday, May 21.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink