Best Bet – (4) – REDDIT HANOVER – Race 12
Spot Play – (6) – CASCADA – Race 8
20-cent Early Pick 4 – Race 2 - 2,8/1,4,6/9/5,6 = $2.40
20-cent Middle Pick 4 – Race 6 – 2,3,4,7/2,7/2,5,6/4,5,7 = $14.40
20-cent Late Pick 4 – Race 11 – 3,6/4/1,5,6/1,2,4,9 = $4.80
Race 1 – (3) CASSIUS has been actively competing while all rivals except #1 Deja Vu Seelster have been on the shelf or qualifying; tough post at Hippodrome 3R June 4, when he closed for fifth with tonight’s driver Brosseau aboard; last Rideau Carleton win was Nov. 19, gate to wire from post #2, at 7000CLMCD classification. (1) DEJA VU SEELSTER started 2020 strong at Rideau, winning 4 of her first 5 races here; has never won from the rail; loses Simard to #2 Lunar Launch, but significant post improvement from her two efforts at Hippodrome 3R. (4) UMPIRE HANOVER races for the powerful Mandy Archer/Guy Gagnon combination; class-climber makes first start on a ⅝-mile track here; his two career wins were at Exhibition Park Raceway early last season.
Race 2 – (2) THE LIGHT SPEED makes Rideau Carleton debut for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon; three-year-old Quebec stakes graduate formerly trained by Michel Nolette looks ready to roll for new connections after strong qualifier here last week. (8) WINDSONG QUINCY left a powerful impression at Rideau this March; lightly-raced four-year-old is undefeated at this track, but post hurts and he loses Gagnon to the top choice this race. (7) CLODAM BAYAMA has erratic resume but some late pace; note this is the eight-year-old mare’s first start since 2016; she took her lifetime best 1:56.2 here in September that year, for driver Yves Filion, in distaff NW1R1500 company.
Race 3 – (6) WILDCAT CAM has new catch driver Marc St. Louis Jr. in the sulky, for trainer Mandy Archer; his two wins last year were both at Rideau Carleton, on the class drop, on the front end, suggesting this could be a successful partnership, but expect a late challenge from stablemate (4) VEGAS ROCKS; a classy six-time 2020 winner at this venue, all but two of those victories were with Stephane Brosseau driving, and he’s apparently chosen #8 Larry Is Debs Rock this race. (1) SASKABUSH STEVE draws much better than last effort at Hippodrome 3R, where he’s been active lately; up in class and loses Samuel Fillion to #4 Vegas Rocks, however he’s been overlooked at Rideau before, like his 60/1 victory here last October.
Race 4 – (9) BONITAS SUNSHINE comes with risk, but intrigues: after owner Don Jobin put up trainer/driver Stephane Pouliot last Thursday, this colt won the co-second-fastest of nine Rideau Carleton qualifiers (1:56.4, a career best). Still a maiden, he showed ability at two and only missed a cheque in one purse start. (6) WISK KEY K tripped out for his one and only win, March 28 at this track; pocketing up early behind leader Billy Bayama (#4 tonight) while avoiding breakers, Guy Gagnon sent this colt around tired competition at the three-quarters. His stablemate (2) THE TWIST makes pari-mutuel debut for Samuel Fillion, after wiring field in his qualifier here last week; this gelding was his dam’s most expensive ($18K) of six yearlings and purchased at Lexington for current co-owner Jamie Copley.
Race 5 – Last year, (6) MACH MESSIER was no worse than third at the half in all six of his wins, every one of them at Rideau; at his best on the front end, recently-claimed gelding could prove a perfect match with newest catch driver Marc St. Louis Jr. and trainer Vic Puddy. (5) SOS JUSTIFIED has been dependable in Rideau Carleton $10K claiming company, capturing an astonishing 14 of his 30 career victories last season here; disregard his most recent qualifier and start—he was interfered with in both. (7) ITS EDS IDEA hasn’t won from this far out here; can leave aggressively, but has been vulnerable to closers at the end of those miles; debut for owner/trainer/driver Guy Gagnon following extended absence from racing.
Race 6 – (7) EAU NATURELLE has been active at Hippodrome 3R’s Preferred level lately; she took her lifetime mark last August 13 at Rideau Carleton with tonight’s driver Stephane Brosseau in the bike, grabbing the lead early from post #5 and holding off all challengers the rest of the mile. (4) GOALTENDER has gone surprisingly winless in last few efforts at Hippodrome 3R for trainer/driver Marie Claude Auger; late speed; stablemate (2) CLUB BELVEDERE adds Lasix and Guy Gagnon for a class-climbing Rideau return.
Race 7 – (2) PRINCE GIOVANNI seldom gets respect at the windows, but he was a narrow second at odds of 9/1 the last time he had this post position; his most recent victory was also from Rideau #2 hole, Dec. 13, when he and Jacques Beaudoin took charge early and held off Nw400pscd pacers. (7) PANTHEON SEELSTER has been surprisingly good from this challenging post position, even getting one of his two 2020 victories from Rideau #7 last Nov. 19 from off the pace, but for Stephane Brosseau, who doesn’t drive this race. (3) REALRUBIES AT PLAY has the late speed that class-climbing morning line fave #4 Macho Polo hasn’t displayed in most recent lines; a sharp closing quarter in last week’s qualifier hints at a late move tonight.
Race 8 – (6) CASCADA turned in a recent gate-to-wire qualifying win here that was faster than two of the pacing qualifiers; last June 21, he won in 1:56.2, in identical style, for Robbie Robinson, who drives his own #9 The Magic of Life tonight; two starts later, he was a patient off-the-pace winner in the Preferred for Jacques Beaudoin. (5) ASA IM READY lands winningest post for Rideau trotters; has struggled with “seconditis” this year, facing similar company. (2) UNDERCOVER STRIKE is almost perfect in 2021; his lone seasonal loss came courtesy of a class hike to this track’s Preferred level, which he and Guy Gagnon do not face in veteran gelding’s return to pari-mutuel action after trotting co-fastest last quarter in a tightener/qualifier. (9) THE MAGIC OF LIFE starts from second tier, from which he finished fourth on last attempt. (1) RICHSNORTHERNDREAM impressed in qualifier; class hike and new catch driver here.
Race 9 – (7) WINDSUN CHEYENNE took a lifetime-best mark at Rideau Carleton just prior to the shutdown of racing, with tonight’s driver Pascal Berube aboard; good recent results at Hippodrome 3R suggest Gina Bragagnolo’s gelding could capitalize on exit from Preferred level. (4) THE ROADIES wired a weaker group than this in his June 2 Rideau qualifier, pacing the second-fastest winning mile that day; reunited with Guy Gagnon this race, front-end-loving class-dropper still finds himself facing a deeper group than in any of his last five victories, four of which were last year. (5) VANILLA MALTED also likes to set the pace; despite class relief, a battle between him and The Roadies could set up for a closer to overtake both.
Race 10 – (5) LESTENPERCENT gets perfect post for a comeback; winningest horse of 2020 in this field (12 wins) trailed throughout last race, disadvantaged by #8 hole, yet closed faster than eventual winner Mr Contestant and runner-up Crossfit, both in tonight’s race. (6) MR CONTESTANT is apparent choice of Stephane Brosseau over #8 Severus Hanover and (2) FLYING ISA N, who qualified by an eye-catching margin right before the shutdown of Ontario racing; strong closer returns to action with new catch driver Pascal Berube.
Race 11 – (3) BOBBIES POWER PLAY is a new Rideau Carleton addition, debuting for trainer John MacMillan; recent Rosecroft winner knows his way around a ⅝-mile track; dangerous on front end at this level. (6) TRAGICALLY ZIP also likes to leave; a front-end Georgian Downs winner last July 11, he hasn’t usually been as good on a half-mile track; his going-away win in Thursday Rideau qualifier served notice that he will come back strong for Mandy Archer. (8) JIMMY BE GOOD would have to overcome the toughest post to get his first win of the year for co-owner/trainer/driver Guy Gagnon; qualifying win and class drop may not be enough.
Race 12 – Guy Gagnon’s March claim (4) REDDIT HANOVER qualified well; light on wins (just two last year), he looks to add one tonight with a front-end voyage and class relief. (6) GENESEE’s best recent efforts have been from off the pace for Tyler Jones, who does not drive tonight. (5) PLAYIN FOR KEEPS has been consistent show finisher this year, whether gaining or losing ground late; Marie Claude Auger picks up catch drive on the 13-year-old, who added Lasix this season.
Race 13 – (5) RACEMUP and Marc St. Louis Jr. teamed up for a Western Fair Preferred-2 Handicap place finish earlier this year; front-end-loving gelding has missed board just once in 2021, when he had Rideau Carleton post #8. (6) NATIONAL DEBT can never be ruled out, even though this race’s top choice narrowly held off his late change in their last match-up. (1) THRILLING TIMES made just one, unsuccessful, comeback effort last year at Mohawk; took lifetime-best 1:54.3 mark at Rideau back on Sept. 15, 2019, opening up for driver Guy Gagnon and trainer Karen Kroeger; note that this five-year-old had a six-race win streak at this track in 2019 for those connections, winning by significant margins on front end each time; sleeper?
Race 14 – (1) JON SNOW left Rideau Carleton on a winning note last August 20, stalking Deja Vu Seelster from pocket and charging to a 1:54.3 personal best; Pascal Berube and Michael Armstrong were the architects of that Nw8000lcd victory, and have joined forces with him again tonight. (2) THINKINGOFYOUBABE leaves Lasix and makes Rideau Carleton debut for Mandy Archer and Guy Gagnon; a 15-time winner last year, she nearly equaled her lifetime mark in last week’s qualifier here, closing in a field’s-co-fastest 28-flat against a deep group. (9) NIGHT CLUB HANOVER went winless in 2020; second-tier start with newest catch driver Richard Simard follows strong qualifier. (4) JOURNALISTIC is now free-legged; Phil Reid’s gelding won for fun at this track before the temporary stoppage of racing; class hike for pacesetter who’s tough to catch. (3) SIR GALAHAD makes third consecutive start with Lasix, albeit after a significant layoff; noteworthy driver change suggests John MacMillan trainee could improve tonight even though up in class.
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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 a whopping $1.60.
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