Best Bet – (2) STORMY HALL GB – Race 2
Spot Play – (8) SOUFFLE DE VIE – Race 6
20-cent Pick 5 – Race 5 – 6,7/8/1,5,7/4,7/3,4,6 = $7.20
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 – 2,6/1,2,6/1,4,5/6,7 = $7.20
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 4 – 1,4,5/6,7/8,9/1,5,7 = $7.20
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 7 – 1,5,7/4,7/6/2,3,6,7 = $4.80
20-cent Last Pick 4 – Race 9 – 3,4,5,6/2,3,6/5,6/3,9 = $9.60
Race 1 — (1) GODIVA WATCH ME surprised from post 8 Thursday, breaking maiden in first start for Richard Simard; after 3/5 favourite Turtles Vett went past Southwind Leo at the opening quarter, this gelding was next to challenge first over; he put away the pacesetter and maintained solid lead to the wire in professional trip that suggests he's ready for class jump. (5) STAGE TERROR was covered and shuffled back at the three-quarters last Sunday; 40/1 mare shook loose at top of stretch, closing from far back in field's co-second-fastest 30.1 for show in 2021 debut; beat (3) IRAD OR TEES and a trotter in her first qualifier of the year; Stephane Brosseau guided him to recent maiden victory, but the gelding looked green Thursday, making spontaneous break and racing wide.
Race 2 — Class/post relief for (2) STORMY HALL GB, who took new lifetime mark the last time he drew #2; intriguingly, also paced field's-fastest (28-flat) last quarter last Sunday, closing well for fifth. (6) WINDSONG QUINCY is winningest horse this race; his best results from this track's outside posts have been at lower classifications than tonight's; gate-to-wire romp at 1/9 last start, with (5) STAR DOG a game first-up to challenge, stepping out from fourth past the half; Ryan Guy's class-climber was only passed in stretch by rivals with easier trips.
Race 3 — (1) ASHLEYSBEST paced fastest non-winning mile of his career (1:52.1) in September 26 Preferred Handicap place finish; perplexing failure to gain ground late off pocket ride behind Shadow Margeaux last Sunday; only 2021 win was here September 5, from rail with Mike Healey in the sulky. (6) ST LADS CASH improved on last week's class hike; second-over tow behind Giddy Up Max past opening quarter; tipped three-wide on last turn, closing impressively in field's-co-second-fastest 28.2. (2) HES GOT A VENDETTA gapped fourth early behind gate-to-wire winner Shadow Margeaux last Sunday; boxed in at the half and shuffled back, he still came home in field's-co-second-fastest 28.2 up passing lane.
Race 4 — (1) BANKROLL sat last throughout most recent mile, last Sunday; finally got involved on last turn, moving second-over behind Mortgage My Villa; took new personal best last month at higher classification at Kawartha Downs, stinging pacesetter Dylans Bank. Popular claimer (4) SOS JUSTIFIED is back after win streak at Leamington; claimed at end of that track's meet, he's back at scene of fastest seasonal victories, for new trainer; three Rideau $10K claiming victories so far in 2021; won his last two starts here in July at $8K tag for Anne-Marie Turenne/Pascal Berube before moving to Mohawk; Berube's driving (5) EMPTYTHETILL tonight, hoping to add to single 2021 win at Rideau $10K claiming level; came from far back (sixth) and unleashed field's-fastest closing quarter to overtake Mortgage My Villa in the stretch; last Sunday, Mortgage My Villa returned the favour — his absence tonight makes this a more wide-open race.
Race 5 — (6) THE LIGHT SPEED moves inside his toughest rival tonight; beaten 4/5 fave closed in fields-fastest 27.4 for place last Sunday; followed the first-over Day Delight from second-over seventh at the half; circled him on final turn, running out of racetrack in pursuit of a breakaway (7) NATIONAL DEBT, who did win from same post position as tonight in his latest victory; the difference between the two dominant pacers is relative to The Light Speed's inside draw. (5) D GS DE VITO has been a comfortable third behind the top pair in last two editions of Rideau Preferred Handicap; Hippodrome 3R invader does have one 2021 Ottawa victory, March 28 from rail at lower classification. (2) OUTLAW KISMET has been at his best for Steeven Genois in two tries at this track; stepped up from claimers into Preferred last week, after eight-year-old took new lifetime mark. (4) SHADOW MARGEAUX was fourth in his previous Preferred Handicap; strong front-end winner on last Sunday's class drop, courtesy of ideal rail trip he definitely will not get against these.
Race 6 — (8) SOUFFLE DE VIE has 2013 Coville Cup champion Bernard Lavigne in the sulky; Lavigne won last Sunday's Cup division with Mission Three; Souffle De Vie followed front-end winner Montysgonemarble from single-file second Thursday, finishing game third chasing leader up passing lane in a field's-fastest 29.1. (9) LUNAR LAUNCH was boxed in third, he somehow found racing room, escaping late and charging home widest of all; caught third-over in outer flow last Sunday, recent class-climber could not gain ground; William Roy finished second aboard Mach Lee, while Lunar Launch was fourth (for another driver) in their most recent Cup events. (5) THINK AGAIN is this field's most recent (October 24) winner; Claude Larose was third in his latest Cup drive with Fern Hill Flight.
Race 7 — Daniel Laflamme was second with Sir A in last Sunday's Coville Cup leg; tonight, he drives (5) WINDSUN CHEYENNE; gelding was boxed in fourth at the half that night, then went for passing lane, beat to the wire by a hard-charging (1) ART OF FIRE, who remains unpredictable after show finish as beaten even-money fave; Drew Smyth drove Twin B Laker to show result in most recent Cup leg. (7) DREAMFAIR TECATE took back early Thursday and launched from last at the opening quarter; he was parked first over the rest of the mile but finished a brave third; Benoit Hebert was fourth with off-the-pace Fern Hill Bella in latest Cup division.
Race 8 — Beaten even-money fave (4) BS TYRRIFIC was parked right off the gate last Sunday, battling pacesetter Fcee N (#1 tonight) to three-quarters; somehow found more for stretch drive, refusing to give ground and a diminishing half-length from overtaking Fcee N at the finish. (7) DYLANS BANK also chased Fcee N off the gate recently, from tonight's post position; unlike Bs Tyrrific, he shadowed him from pocket throughout October 17 mile, then shook loose to win by four lengths; class drop after cutting card's fastest opening quarter (26.1) and half (55 flat) leading through three-quarters last Sunday. (6) MACHO POLO is often gaining ground as others tire; Rideau wins have been over lesser company.
Race 9 — (6) STONEBRIDGE BEACH won his last non-Preferred race October 3 at a surprising 9/1, dropping into pocket behind Atomic Million Am, overtaking him past the quarter, and holding off Giddy Up Max at the wire; first off the gate in last Sunday's Preferred, he was no match for National Debt, but stayed with him from pocket until stretch drive; consistent speed. (3) DAY DELIGHT is seemingly Marie-Claude Auger's choice over Thrilling Times (#2 tonight); half-mile track specialist exits Preferred, looks to build on impressive back-to-back Rideau qualifying victories. Stablemate/beaten 1/5 fave (4) THE REGULATOR followed the hot pace set by Dylans Bank last start, third along the inside to the half; boxed in late, under visibly-strong hold, he closed through traffic as pace collapsed.
Race 10 — (6) FERN HILL FLIGHT overcame interference last Thursday to catch Coville Cup field; Sports Bliss jumped it off and reversed into his path, costing him early position; boxed in sixth at the three-quarters, he escaped to chase home three-wide winner Mission Three; late speed. (2) MONTYSGONEMARBLE wired for Guy Gagnon in last Thursday's Rideau debut; loses Gagnon to #7 Sports Bliss; class jump. (3) REDDIT HANOVER was set back 5p6 in previous Cup leg; he bore in on Stonebridge Sting (#8 this race), causing him to go off stride; his three seasonal victories were all for previous trainers/drivers; one of Ted McDonald's two catch drives on this card.
Race 11 — (6) CAPTEUR DE REVE returns from a short time off; took career-best mark two starts ago in Preferred Handicap victory from same post for Steeven Genois, who's back to drive; gate speed and tough on front end. Beaten 3/5 fave (5) RIPPED AND READY gets closer every week, missing by a head to second-over Gloire Dream (#7 here) last Sunday from same post position as tonight; came first-over from fifth past the opening quarter, dueling with Crossfit (#3 this race) into the stretch; still gaining right to the wire. (3) CROSSFIT was hard used last Thursday; battle with Ripped and Ready set up for Gloire Dream to power past them both; post relief helps.
Race 12 — (9) GENESEE starts from second tier for a returning Samuel Fillion; he's the last horse to defeat Thundering Jim (#3 tonight), which he did with stalking trip from rail October 10; flying late last Sunday, after being boxed in third past the opening quarter in mile cut by (3) THUNDERING JIM, who had already opened up by three lengths on the lead by the quarter; he's the horse to beat and everyone knows it. (6) ST LADS CAPTAIN closed in field's co-second-fastest 28.4 that race for place; light on wins, but improving form. (5) PORTRSTOWNCHRIS IR seems to be Clarke Steacy's choice over #9 Genesee; leaves Coville Cup; Irish-bred's four seasonal wins were at Mohawk, where longer stretch factored into well-timed off-the-pace efforts. (2) DARKEST SECRET pocketed up behind the popular pacesetter last week, but ultimately gave way to closers.
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Melissa Keith is a lifelong harness handicapper/bettor, Hervey/O'Brien Media Excellence Award-winning writer, and occasional racecaller. She is a contributor to TROT, Hoof Beats, Atlantic Post Calls, and Harness Racing Update, often covering topics related to wagering. Her most memorable bets include taking down the Truro Raceway Pick-7 pool for a $36 investment (it has not been offered since) and collecting $1,287 for a Woodbine Harness Pick-4, which cost $1.60.
Photo by Ryan Clements Photos
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