Sent the 1-5 favourite, National Debt swept to the front moving to the final turn and drew clear to a three-length victory in the $8,600 Preferred Handicap Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Driver Pascal Berube placed National Debt last of the quintet towards a :26.3 first quarter set by Chaleurs Ad. Berube then angled the Yves Tessier trainee first over approaching a :56.2 half and advanced to the top past three-quarters in 1:23.4. National Debt crossed to the cones rounding the final turn and opened his lead on Chaleurs Ad in progress to a 1:52.4 win with Ufdragons Rocket snagging third.
An eight-year-old stallion by Allamerican Native, National Debt won his 12th race from 25 starts this season and his 51st from 160 overall, earning $520,639. Francois Morin owns the $2.50 winner.
Batting Stats swooped from last to take the $8,600 Preferred Handicap Trot while giving trainer Jamie Copley one of his three victories on the card.
The four-year-old Encore Encore gelding sat sixth through a :27 first quarter and :57 half while Revenue Agent worked to the lead. Hldontghttoyurdrms moved first over heading to the clubhouse turn and supplied cover to Y S Suzanne while Batting Stats tipped third over moving to three-quarters in 1:26.2. Y S Suzanne kicked off cover and took the lead from Hldontghttoyurdrms into the stretch but could not outsprint Batting Stats through the lane, finishing a half-length behind in second. Hldontghttoyurdrms finished five lengths farther back in third.
Owned by Copley Stables, Batting Stats won his ninth race from 31 starts this season and his 11th from 71 overall, earning $131,462. Rodney La Framboise drove the $7.10 winner.
Copley conditioned two other winners on the card. He sent Da News ($2.50) to a wire to wire victory in the opener and Saulsbrook Lanny ($2.50) to a pocket-popping victory later in the card. Both winners had Guy Gagnon in the sulky, who drove five winners on the card. Gagnon also piloted Mohegan Blue Chip ($2.50) to a wire-to-wire victory and Melanie G ($25.00) to a pocket-pouncing victory—winning the first three races on the evening. His final win on the night came with a five-length score by his trainee Saulsbrook Peach ($4.30).