Rideau Carleton Thursday, July 25, 2024

BEST BET – (1) SPICY RED HEAD – R8

SPOT PLAY – (6) MATCH MEIF YOU CAN – R6

Pick 5 (R5-9): 4,5,3,6 / 6,3 / 4,1,5,3 / 1 / 2,6 = $12.80  

Early Pick 4 (R2-5): 3,2,6 / 4,3 / 6,7,1 / 4,5,3,6 = $14.40

Middle Pick 4 (R4-7): 6,7,1 / 4,5 / 6,3,5 / 4,1,5 = $10.80

Late Pick 4 (R6-9): 6,3 / 4,1,5,3 / 1,2,4 / 2,6,1 = $14.40 

(20-cent combinations)

Race 1: 

(5) LYONS SHINING followed Speaker Nancy from single-file fourth here Thursday; late move up inside path, behind slowing D A Temptation; paced fastest (1:53.2) mile of her life in her previous start, July 11; significant class relief; took 1:54.4 lifetime mark from same post/level June 13 for William Roy, over...

(7) RUN BABY, who has two recent wins at this Rideau classification; parked early July 11 by leader Lory Marchandise; backed into pocket before quarter; tipped three-wide for stretch drive; overtook that pacesetter and Bestgirl In Town; held off late-charging RED CARPET READY; post hurts

(3) BET IM SHADY is up in class after Sunday's start as a Rideau also-eligible; offstride before the start; third-over from sixth on second turn; three-wide move on backstretch; gaining ground late; beaten even-money fave; quick turnaround; back with all-female pacers 

(3) DGS TESLA makes Rideau Carleton debut for Stephane Pouliot; first start since April 27; lightly-raced at three; a Blizzard Series leg winner this February at Mohawk with pocket ride in lifetime-best 1:55.3; third to Preferred pacer Legion Seelster and Margosgotthecargo in Sunday's qualifier here 

Race 2:

(3) LITTLE KASSARA ges post relief in second lifetime start; backpedaled to fifth off the Rideau gate Thursday; raced fifth in well-spaced field behind front-end winner Bet Im Shady; second-over move approaching three-quarters; closed in field's-co-second-fastest 29.2; outsprinted for show by...

(2) SAINT IDES, who was offstride before start; tipped first-over from fifth at Rideau three-quarters Thursday; flushed out HORIZON SEELSTER in stretch; passed her to finish third; closed in field's-co-second-fastest 29.2; retains Robert Shepherd for third consecutive start together

(6) HORIZON SEELSTER jumped offstride while battling 1/9 fave Jenny Longlegs on Rideau first turn July 11; reset and backed down to third; lost ground late; with no Jenny Longlegs/Bet Im Shady in today's field, might be top choice if not for outside post 

(1) MIMIS HONOR makes first Rideau start; conservative trip Sunday from Hippodrome 3R rail in her pari-mutuel debut; single-file sixth to half; caught behind two rivals battling on backstretch; gaining ground in stretch, but well behind top rivals; her dam did not win any of four starts at age two

Race 3:

(4) ALLSTAR CHEDDAR moves in after back-to-back Rideau post #7 starts; won his last two starts below non-winners $40K classification, June 16 and 20; adds Guy Gagnon, aboard for three 2024 victories; wired in lifetime-best 1:51.4 here July 20 for Robert Shepherd, now driving stablemate HUGH HEFF

(3) HOWMAC VICTOR gets major post relief; winless since Feb. 2 at London; his six 2023 Rideau wins were all from post #5 or inside, with three from rail; Sunday pocket ride for place, despite post #8; sat behind front-end winner I Ama Rocket; matched his own lifetime mark of 1:53.4; quick turnaround

(1) WOODMERE GAELIC is up in class; adds catch driver Robbie Robinson; one 2024 win, on front end January 10 at Western Fair; followed Lovemyrockinbird from single-file sixth here Sunday; covered up/shuffled to last on final turn; flying up the inside path for fourth; quick turnaround 

(5) HUGH HEFF has hit the board in 22 of 27 starts this year; just one win since June 9 claim into Mandy Archer stable; post/class relief; trailed field to half; tipped third-over from last on backstretch; caught behind a stopping Bet Nineteen on final turn; most of his wins have been on half-mile tracks

Race 4:

(6) ANNAS WISH beaten 2/5 fave couldn't repeat her going-away July 11 Rideau win on Thursday's class hike; sat third at opening quarter behind front-end winner SPEAKER NANCY; tipped first-over at half; fought gamely for place after spending 29.1 last quarter parked first-over; retains Marie-Claude Auger

(7) SPEAKER NANCY cleared D A TEMPTATION on first turn here Thursday; fought to maintain lead under pressure from first-over ANNAS WISH on backstretch; won by 2 open lengths; moves from statistically-best (18.7% winners) post for Rideau pacers this meet to toughest (4% winners)

(1) SAUBLE AMBER was taken to back of the field at start here Thursday; trailed to three-quarters; coming on late for show; ran out of racetrack; field's-fastest (28.4) closing quarter; won on front end over males here June 9, in 1:54 mile from inside post; strong closer 

(5) CAESARS SHOT made her move from first-over fifth approaching Rideau second turn Thursday; flushed out ANNAS WISH; gapped cover along backstretch; loses Pascal Berube to RAPTORS WON; Samuel Fillion drives her for first time; mild late bid

Race 5:

(4) EMMA TOWN BUD returns to post of his June Rideau Preferred Handicap victory for Pierre Bovay; trailed leader BLACK TIE BASH to half July 11; chased cover of Ima Standup Guy second-over to three-quarters; three-wide around his stalling cover in stretch; edged out in tough three-horse decision for win

(5) WARRAWEE XALT cut fractions for Ryan Guy in Thursday's Rideau Preferred Handicap; parked a stubborn BLACK TIE BASH from the half to top of the stretch; looked like a winner, but BLACK TIE BASH renewed first-over challenge in deep stretch, pulling ahead at the wire; post advantage 

(3) ROSE RUN WHYNOT was powerful going-away winner in July 12 Hippodrome 3R Preferred Handicap for William Roy; two off-the-pace 2024 Mohawk wins for mare once known as half-mile-track specialist

(6) BLACK TIE BASH broke in post #6 start in July 20, 2023 Rideau Preferred Handicap; he finished seventh for Robert Shepherd that race; tipped first-over from third on second turn to chase leader WARRAWEE XALT Thursday; gradually gained ground on backstretch; winning stretch move 

Race 6:

(6) MATCH MEIF YOU CAN impressed in Thursday's 2024 Rideau debut for Samuel Fillion/Mike Armstrong; cut fractions from post #8; still on lead at top of stretch; hunted down late by EYES OF JUSTICE; post relief; three front-end spring wins at half-mile Monticello; none since 

(3) EYES OF JUSTICE was wisely taken back to single-file third off the late here Thursday; ground-saving trip behind pacesetter MATCH MEIF YOU CAN to final turn; successful late bid; trotted field's co-second-quickest (29.1) last quarter; two previous 2024 Rideau wins together used similar strategy 

(5) CROSSFIT steps up in class after Thursday's near-gate-to-wire victory for Marie-Claude Auger; winning 1/9 fave overtook Show Me the Magic early and never looked back; comfortable win by over two open lengths over next-best Wishyoudtellme; off-the-pace win at today's classification back on May 16

(1) RAISING RUSTY makes first start since June 20; closed for show at comparable classification April 25, closing from Rideau rail after pocket ride behind winner Duke Lavictoire; adds driver Melanie Plourde, as trainer/driver Stephane Pouliot stays with stablemate SOUTHWIND RUSSIAN 

(4) SOUTHWIND RUSSIAN raced three-wide to half (!) in latest; backed down on backstretch after unsustainable trip; backed down to last; cannot see similar outcome today; completes Hi-5

Race 7:

(4) BEAUTY IS BLIND looks like Pascal Berube's choice over Rideau newcomer ONTHEROADTOTEXAS; took back to last off the gate from outside post here July 11; trailed throughout mile in well-spaced field; drops in after Sunday's Hippodrome 3R Preferred Handicap; shuffled back to last; quick turnaround 

(1) ONTHEROADTOTEXAS settled single-file fourth going into Hippodrome 3R first turn Friday; tipped first-over off second turn; circled by La Petite Grise passing in front of grandstand; parked remainder of mile; retreated late; advanced second-over fourth early to grab lead in July 12 3R win; 14 wins last year

(5) ALWAYS B MERRY and Ryan Guy waited fourth along pylons as top mares battled three-wide on first turn Thursday; tightened up in fourth after 27.1 opening quarter; trailed to top of stretch; went three-wide for stretch drive; gaining late for place behind Better Catch Girl; field's-fastest (29.1) last quarter

(3) BIG CHEDDAR made uncharacteristic miscues twice on first turn Thursday; recall after the first; refunded after second, in which she broke before fair start pole; front-end-loving mare gets another chance at similar classification; reunited with Guy Gagnon

Race 8:

(1) SPICY RED HEAD adds Guy Gagnon; returns to Rideau front tier after back-to-back starts from trailing post; won their previous two starts together, May 4 and April 26, 2023 at Rideau Carleton; second from rail at higher classification June 13, charging first-over against Southwind Russian down stretch 

(2) TATTOOMAN gets post relief after Thursday's second-over bid from too far back at three-quarters for Pascal Berube; closed for fourth; not catching winner Crossfit or runner-up WISHYOUDTELLME; wired by open lengths from post #3 at lower level July 11

(4) INCREDIBLE HALL outperformed his 28/1 odds here Thursday; gapping fourth behind leader Crossfit before second turn; tightened up by half; gaining ground late for show; Robbie Robinson returns to drive class-dropper who was second at 65/1 odds to Charlie Bar here July 11; beware

(6) STOMPER TOM gets class relief on return from OSS Grassroots July 15 at Mohawk; four-time 2024 winner was non-factor after leaving second, settling fourth, then losing ground down the stretch; took 1:56.1 lifetime mark here June 13 with pocket ride behind Coltrane de Vie; reunited with Ryan Guy

Race 9:

(2) MONTYSGONEMARBLE won for Stephane Brosseau from this Rideau post May 12; subsequently moved up in class, going winless since then; sat single-file fourth behind 6/5 front-end fave Day Delight here Thursday; launched third-over move at three-quarters; closed in field-co-second-fastest 28.2 

(6) IRRESISTIBLE looks like Guy Gagnon's choice over beaten 3/2 fave HES GOT A VENDETTA; single-file first early Thursday; second-over move on backstretch to follow first-up STONEBRIDGE HERMES to three-quarters; circled him on final turn, behind long-gone Day Delight; closed in field's-fastest 28 flat

(1) TIME TO DANCING and Stephane Pouliot hunted down front-end winner Mr John here Thursday; shuffled to fourth and covered up at half; loose late up inside path; ran out of racetrack; closed in field's-fastest 29.4 for place, under vigorous urging; one front-end, 2024 win was May 23 at lower classification

(5) STONEBRIDGE HERMES and Jacques Beaudoin wired in seasonal-best 1:53.3 here July 14; stalled first-over on final turn Thursday while chasing breakaway winner Day Delight; held on for show behind IRRESISTIBLE in beaten 1:53.3 mile; slightly up in class   

(7) LOVEMYROCKINBIRD and Jimmy Gagnon got favoured front-end trip for Sunday Rideau victory; tougher post position/classification for rematch; completes Hi-5