Guy Gagnon was nearly unstoppable on Sunday, May 19 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, as the current leading driver steered five winners on the 11-race card, including a sweep of both $10,000 Preferreds.
Gagnon took the first race on the card as both a driver and trainer with Conquest Seelster and returned to do the same in the Preferred Pace with The Light Speed. Leaving from the outside post five, Gagnon and the 1-5 favourite could see them all from fifth early while Smooth Lou (Samuel Fillion) battled to the outside of Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) to take the field to the first quarter in :27.1. Smooth Lou cleared to the lead before leading to the halfway point in :56.1 as Gagnon angled The Light Speed off of the pylons from fifth to begin his first-over journey. The Light Speed accelerated quickly to brush to the lead on the backstretch, forging to the front at three-quarters in 1:23.3 before crossing over to the pylons.
Entering the final turn, Jet Rock followed The Light Speed to the front and stalked from second as The Light Speed turned for home with the lead. Jet Rock took his shot up the inside, but The Light Speed proved to have enough after the backside brush to hold sway to the wire by a half length in 1:51.4. Light The Torch (Pascal Berube) rallied for third to round out the trifecta.
A winner of three straight and five of his last six, The Light Speed now sports six wins on the season and 51 for his career. The six-year-old gelded son of Moon Beam-Jayma now boasts a gaudy bankroll of $367,714 for his career for owner Michel Nolette.
The next three victories on the card for Gagnon were all for leading trainer Mandy Archer, including the Preferred Handicap Trot in race seven. Aboard 4-5 favourite Meadowbranch Noble from post five, Gagnon wasted little time getting to the front, grabbing the lead early to cut the first quarter in :27.2. Meadowbranch Noble had things his way to the halfway point, grabbing a breather to lead to that station in :57.1. Donatover (Robert Robinson) were the first to engage the leader, moving within a length of the leader while the pace picked up to three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Meadowbranch Noble rebuffed the challenge of Donatover on the final turn, turning for home with two lengths of separation between himself and the field. Under Gagnon asking, Meadowbranch Noble had enough left to cross the wire 1-1/4 lengths clear of Archer stablemate Ima Standup Guy (Robert Shepherd), who closed for second. The pocket-sitter throughout the 1:55 mile, Warrawee Xalt (Ryan Guy), finished third.
Meadowbranch Noble is now a five-time winner in 2024 through 13 outings, with all five of those victories coming within his last six starts. Owned by Jamie Copley, the seven-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter-Wen Mars Memo is a 16-time winner in his career, sporting a career bankroll of $256,049.
The Gagnon/Archer duo also teamed up for victories with Irresistible and Hurrikanekingcarlo on the Sunday night card.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)