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SUNDAY DECEMBER 14 RIDEAU CARLETON SELECTIONS
BEST BET–(3) JJ XAVIER–R10
SPOT PLAY–(2) SPORTS ACTIVATOR–R8
Pick 5 (R5-9): 9,4,5/1,6,5,2/5,3/2/5,4,9 = $14.40
Early Pick 4 (R2-5): 6,4/3,6/3,6,4/9,4,5 = $7.20
Middle Pick 4 (R4-7): 3,6,4/9,4,5/1,6,5,2/5,3 = $14.40
Late Pick 4 (R6-9): 1,6,5,2/5,3/2,5/5,4,9 = $9.60
Last Pick 4 (R8-11): 5,3/5,4,9/3,2/4,5,3 = $7.20
(20-cent combinations)
Race 1:
(3) GIVE ME KARETS K jumped it off leaving Sunday; reset quickly, nearly catching the field by the half; three-wide at top of stretch; closed for place; card’s co-fastest (29.4) last quarter for a trotter; knee boot slipped at the half.
(1) CROSSFIT stepped out first-over from fourth at the half Sunday; steadily advanced along backstretch in pursuit of pacesetter CADILLAC; winning 3/5 fave; held off GIVE ME KARETS K & DRINKLIKEHENRY; 1 for 8 from rail this year, with another win by placing.
(6) DRINKLIKEHENRY followed CROSSFIT along backstretch Sunday; still second-over down the stretch behind that winning fave; edged out for place by GIVE ME KARETS K.
(2) SYNERGY S got away single-file third from rail Sunday at 35/1; caught inside DRINKLIKEHENRY along backstretch; slipped out on final turn; wins Nov. 3 & 30, 2024.
Race 2:
(6) DEAL SPEED spotted rivals open lengths Sunday; caught in/shuffled back along backstretch; shook loose on final turn; closed widest of all down stretch; field’s-fastest 29.2; William Roy drove in July 4 maiden win at 3R & Nov. 23 qualifying win here; class relief.
(4) YOURATTENTIONPLZ got away last after miscue Sunday; third-over from last past the grandstand; second-over fifth at half; three-wide around WICKED MUNKY on backstretch; broke stride again; beaten 1/9 fave; lost shoe; debut for Guy Gagnon; up in class.
(7) BUSINESSONTHEBEACH gained ground three-wide on first turn Sunday; cleared past grandstand; open-length lead at three-quarters; caught by WINDSOR PATTY; up in class.
(1) DESTINY ROAD set pace at 25/1 from post 6 Nov. 27 at similar classification; under pressure from 2/5 fave Lattego along backstretch; led to final strides; stung; up in class.
Race 3:
(3) WASTINGNOTIME: beaten even-money fave Nov. 27; two moves; won Nov. 19 at higher level; second-over fifth on second turn; three-wide around The Canam Banker on backstretch; drew away from pacesetting Royal Duharas in deep stretch; up in class.
(6) SOUTHWIND RUSSIAN: lone class-dropper crushed on sloppy track Nov. 12, his last start before jump to Preferred Handicap; broke leaving Nov. 27, breaking trotting hopple and causing recall; took 1:54.4 mark wiring on Nov. 28, 2024 at higher classification.
(2) HERCULES debuts for Marie-Claude Auger; second-over from third to chase cover of SOUTHWIND MAC to three-quarters; edged out by WILDFIRE BLUE CHIP; up in class.
(1) ENDLESS TIME got away third, open lengths behind SOUTHWIND MAC & pacesetting Saulsbrook Cami Sunday; suddenly began dropping through field on backstretch; a Dec. 7 & 21 winner at Dayton last year; up in class.
Race 4:
(3) DOCDOR MICKEY was caught three-wide leaving Sunday; backpedaled to fifth along pylons before quarter; first-over fourth on second turn; parked first-over third at three-quarters; held on for fourth despite tiring trip; up in class; post relief.
(6) BEACH ROLLER settled fifth enroute to quarter Nov. 30; came third-over from fifth at the half; three-wide around stalling cover of Day Trader on final turn; best of the rest behind going-away Hestonator; up in class.
(4) WALL STREET BELL set pace as 4/5 fave Nov. 30; Day Trader pressed pace past opening quarter; overtaken late by first-over Hestonator & three-wide BEACH ROLLER.
(9) MACH ART IN MOTION was a fast-closing fifth July 13, his latest start from Rideau second tier; raced single-file seventh to half in well-spaced field Nov. 27; third-over on backstretch; three-wide at three-quarters; closed wide for place behind THE COLT.
Race 5:
(9) SEAURAT HANOVER gapped third behind pacesetting BETTERONTHEISLAND & pocket-sitting MACH PLAY Sunday; tightened up past half, only to get caught inside of first-over SASKABUSH STEVE; late bid up inside path;
(4) BETTORHOLDONTIGHT returns to front tier; just missed catching Docdor Mickey in Nov. 2 debut for William Roy, at this classification; post/class relief.
(5) MOMENTSTHATMATTER was caught inside first-over Caughtinalandslide from fifth enroute to half Nov. 30; lost ground on final turn; debut for Robert Shepherd; class relief.
(6) BETTERONTHEISLAND cut fractions Sunday; overtaken in stretch by Mae Lose Control & SASKABUSH STEVE; class relief.
(1) MACH PLAY pocketed up at 15/1 behind 8/1 pacesetter BETTERONTHEISLAND Sunday; late move up inside path; outsprinted by SEAURAT HANOVER; completes Hi-5.
Race 6:
(1) SMOKESTACK took back to last from post 8 Nov. 27; caught in last along backstretch; skimmed pylons late to get up for show at 17/1; massive post relief.
(6) RJS SUPERFREAK recorded three consecutive off-the-pace Rideau wins last Nov. 24-Dec. 15 for Marie-Claude Auger, now aboard DR JOE; wired as 2/5 fave Nov. 12 at lower classification for Pascal Berube.
(5) SKYLAR steps significantly up in class after off-the-pace victory over 1/5 fave Light The Torch for Robert Shepherd Nov. 30; late speed.
(2) DR JOE stepped out first-over from third along backstretch Nov. 30; cleared pacesetter SHOTGUN JERRY approaching top of the stretch; held off Wellworththewait down stretch.
Race 7:
(5) BEAUTY IS BLIND stormed home Nov. 30 in 5/1 off-the-pace victory for Pascal Berube, now driving MY MIDNIGHT LOVER; three-wide at top of stretch from back of field; career win 50; ended last season with back-to-back Rideau wins Nov. 7 & 14; up in class.
(3) MY MIDNIGHT LOVER backpealed to single-file fourth after early attempt to clear POOTIE CAT Nov. 30; second-over to follow cover of BEACH JOURNEY on backstretch; faded in stretch; two moves; post relief.
(1) POOTIE CAT wired from rail for William Roy Nov. 30; track bias that night for horses with rail, who won 6 of 11 races (one 1 horse was scratched).
(2) BEACH JOURNEY launched first-over from third on backstretch Nov. 30; never cleared POOTIE CAT; best of the rest; beaten even-money fave.
Race 8:
(2) SPORTS ACTIVATOR drew into post 5 as also-eligible Sunday; backed down to second-last early for Steeven Genois; parked fourth-over along backstretch; front-end seasonal-best 1:53.1 victory for Pascal Berube Sept. 17 on class hike; post/class relief.
(5) MONTYSGONEMARBLE pocketed up behind 35/1 Howies Man Nov. 30; caught in as SPORTS ACTIVATOR advanced to three-quarters; edged out for show; class relief.
(1) GREYSTONE WATCHMAN battled first-over CURIOUS CORTEZ & More Monet from three-wide enroute to quarter Sunday at 10/1; pocketed up past that point; dropped back on final turn; massive post relief; up in class.
(6) SPRINGBRIDGE JIM was first to the front Sunday; sat pocket at 50/1 after 6/5 fave Light The Torch made front before quarter; overtaken by Vino Louie & Caughtinalandslide late; class relief.
Race 9:
(5) MORE MONET was first to the front Sunday; stretched out Curious Cortez & Greystone Watchman in battle to opening quarter; parked Curious Cortez to half; winning 2/1 co-fave.
(4) HESTONATOR advanced third-over from sixth to quarter Sunday; chased cover of parked-out Curious Cortez to half; three-wide at three-quarters; beaten 2/1 co-fave.
(9) HOWIES MAN closed four-wide down the stretch as 2/1 co-fave for Robert Shepherd Sunday; nearly caught HESTONATOR for place; returns to second tier; wired at this level Nov. 19 for Josh Miller, from post 4, over MORE MONET.
(7) MAKE IT COME TRUE grabbed early command from post 2 Sunday; subsequently wired, opening up over pocket-sitting 6/5 fave Dragons Better near three-quarters; tougher post; up in class.
Race 10:
(3) JJ XAVIER was on track Nov. 16 before being scratched lame; won previous start below Preferred level Oct. 19: second-over fourth behind first-up Dr Joe & STONEBRIDGE HERMES near half; cleared at top of stretch for going-away win; class relief.
(2) MCWICKED TIME backed down to fourth off the gate Sunday as LOGAN BEHOLD battled Wellworththewait to opening quarter; second-over from sixth following first-up Perpetual Rock to half; parked along backstretch; four-wide on final turn; up in class.
(5) BETS SHOW OFF cleared LOGAN BEHOLD off the gate Nov. 30; pocket ride at 8/1 after 2/5 fave I AMA ROCKET made front on first turn; stung for place by LOGAN BEHOLD, advancing up inside path in start from rail (on night of strong rail bias); class relief.
(6) DAY DELIGHT cleared 3/5 fave past quarter Sunday; subsequently cut fractions; overtaken in stretch as LOGAN BEHOLD exited pocket; moves to front tier; up in class.
Race 11:
(4) EXOTIC SAND got away second as 1/5 fave behind 3/1 PL RINCHENIA Nov. 30; caught in pocket as Bayfield Beach advanced first-over along backstretch; pulled pocket in stretch; drew away in final strides; field’s-fastest 28.3 closing quarter.
(5) WELLWORTHTHEWAIT stretched out Logan Behold on first turn Sunday; parked first-over third at 36/1 along backstretch as Le Massif crept along pylons; simultaneously caught inside of Perpetual Rock; third at top of stretch; outsprinted; steep class relief.
(3) VINO LOUIE came first-over from fourth approaching second turn Sunday; parked first-over second at 5/1, chasing 6/5 fave Light The Torch along backstretch; held for place.
(7) PL RINCHENIA: caught near back of field as Light The Torch wired Sunday; class relief.
(6) THRILLING TIMES stepped out at 10/1 from fifth to follow cover of first-up VINO LOUIE into second turn Sunday; tightened up at half; parked behind VINO LOUIE to three-quarters; covered up by Caughtinalandslide on final turn; faded late; class relief; completes Hi-5.