Rideau Carleton Thursday, October 10, 2024

BEST BET – (6) DUKE LAVICTOIRE – R10

SPOT PLAY – (1) CIEL BLEU – R8

Pick 5 (R6-10): 5,1,3 / 5,1,3,6 / 1 / 2,7,4 / 6,5 = $14.40

Early Pick 4 (R2-5): 3,5,2 / 6,3,4,5 / 3,4,5 / 1 = $7.20

Middle Pick 4 (R4-7): 3,4,5 / 1 / 5,1,3 / 5,1,3,6 = $7.20

Late Pick 4 (R7-10): 5,1,3,6 / 1 / 2,7,4 / 6,5 = $4.80

Race 1:

(6) GEISHAS TREASURE tipped first-over from fourth in front of grandstand Thursday; matched strides with leader Red Cape Party past half; parked; overtaken in stretch; class relief; quick turnaround after Tuesday’s covered-up trip; reunited with Jimmy Gagnon. (5) CENTURY JAZZ trailed to half Thursday; third-over move from last at that point; went three-wide around stalling cover on backstretch; winner Beach Roller slipped into three-wide path on final turn, so Stephane Pouliot sent him four-wide for stretch drive; ran out of racetrack chasing place-finisher (3) SHADOW DAVE to wire; Mike Healey’s gelding settled single-file third behind Red Cape Party and SOUFFLE DE VIE before quarter; covered up/shuffled to near-last on second turn; stepped out third-over on backstretch; followed winner Beach Roller down stretch. (1) BAUER POWER is up in class after off-the-pace Friday win at Western Fair; has never missed board for the returning Guy Gagnon. 

Race 2:

(3) CLEOMAX DUHARAS got away fifth along Hippodrome 3R pylons Sept. 29; first-over move on second turn; flushed out La Bromontoise on second turn; three-wide down stretch; returns to class of Sept. 19 Rideau win. (5) COLTRANE DE VIE pocketed up behind front-end winning fave Charlie Bar here Thursday; pulled pocket in stretch; ran out of racetrack; closed in field’s-fastest 30.3; wired from same post/level for Jimmy Gagnon Sept. 12. (2) THE MAGIC OF LIFE’s only 2024 win was here May 1, on front end at higher classification; third behind two pacers in Thursday qualifier after recent breaks; never missed Rideau board between Oct. 12-Nov. 23, 2023 or March 24-May 9, 2024. (1) GENERAL TSO’s latest win was from off the pace July 8 from Northfield rail; got away last here Thursday; gapping on first turn; tightened up fourth after passing two first-turn breakers; tipped first-over on last turn; closed widest of all down stretch. 

Race 3:

(6) LYONS SHINING is serious threat on class drop; non-factor on class jump Sept. 26; ground-saving mile behind winner Speaker Nancy. The first-over (3) ONTHEROADTOTEXAS cleared leader BEACH JOURNEY past opening quarter Thursday; opened up on backstretch; narrowly held off beaten even-money fave (4) BEACH JOURNEY and Ynothos at wire; Guy Gagnon’s front-end-loving mare sat pocket behind ONTHEROADTOTEXAS past quarter here Thursday. (5) BEAUTY IS BLIND broke early in free-legged attempt Thursday; wired from same post at similar level Sept. 12. 

Race 4:

(3) BLACK TIE BASH gets significant post relief; had previously not missed exactor in Rideau Preferred Handicap since August 8; undefeated at this track/level last October; late speed. (4) WARRAWEE XALT chased Duke Lavictoire past the co-fastest (27 flat) opening quarter of the Thursday card, making front just before the second turn; under pressure from first-over ALL WRAPPED UP remainder of mile; held on gamely for place. (5) ALL WRAPPED UP capitalized on a tiring WARRAWEE XALT’s early speed duel with Duke Lavictoire Thursday; sixth early, he brushed along backstretch, going three-wide around stalling Meadowbranch Noble; drew away from WARRAWEE XALT in deep stretch. (2) ONLY FOR JUSTICE got away single-file fifth here Thursday; caught along pylons on backstretch as ALL WRAPPED UP gained ground and The Great Emotion backpedaled; empty in stretch; debut for Marie-Claude Auger. 

Race 5:

(1) BUTTERFLY KISSES gains major post relief; beaten 2/1 fave ran out of racetrack Thursday; field's-co-fastest (29 flat) last quarter; five wins in eight Rideau starts for Robert Shepherd last fall; two losses under sloppy conditions; late speed; up in class. (2) WHATS INTHE ESKY A had early and late battles with winner Moonlightboy here Thursday in his second start for Pascal Berube/Gerard Vaillancourt; front-end-loving gelding paced field's-co-fastest (29 flat) last quarter; up in class. (4) STAR DOG is winless in 2024, but this field's lone class-dropper; second by a diminishing length to Day Delight July 14, his most recent start at similar classification. (5) DYLANS BANK took charge off the gate Tuesday for catch driver Jimmy Gagnon; cut fractions; collared in stretch; beaten 8/5 fave held on for fourth; up in class; quick turnaround.

Race 6:

(5) MICKEYMAKSOMESPEED and Pascal Berube retreated to seventh off the gate here Thursday; they opted to continue first-over rather than settle along pylons; third-over from sixth at half; parked behind stalling cover of SEA LAIRD on backstretch; circled him three-wide on final turn; held off (1) RADLEY HANOVER's wide late bid in battle for place; fellow class-climber retains Guy Gagnon after Thursday's overland trip from near-last, following MICKEYMAKSOMESPEED in outer flow; closed widest of all down stretch; eighth to third late, pacing field's-fastest (28.4) closing quarter; post relief. (3) TIME TO DANCING sat single-file third throughout most of mile here Sept. 26; passing lane move just missed; back-to-back Rideau wins in late October 2023. (4) SHREDDAR steps up in class after winning Sept. 26 Rideau debut for Mandy Archer; single-file sixth to second turn, when he stepped out first-over; flushed out Bs Tyriffic near three-quarters; narrow victory; loses winning driver Guy Gagnon to RADLEY HANOVER. (2) SUN CHIP makes first start since July 18; qualified at Mohawk Friday, finishing fifth of seven pacers; lost ground late; wired going-away for Sameul Fillion here June 6 at similar classification; completes Hi-5.

Race 7:

(5) PROBERTS LEGACY advanced second-over from sixth to Hippodrome 3R opening quarter Sunday; three-wide around slowing American Colt N, landing on lead on second turn; opened up for going-away victory; post relief; up in class; quick turnaround; retains Pascal Berube. (1) GETYOURLICENSELIAM gains class/post relief; followed BET NINTEEN around track Thursday in three-horse Rideau qualifier; most recent win was here August 22 for the returning Jimmy Gagnon, with pocket ride at lower level. (3) MOSSIES ART pocketed up behind Carsons Shadow Sept. 30 at Grand River; boxed in on backstretch; loose on final turn; closed into traffic; first start here since Nov. 7, 2021. (6) SUNSHINE LOVE makes quick turnaround after Tuesday's Rideau victory; gapping fourth behind pacesetting Fear The Shadow to quarter; tipped first-over in front of grandstand; matched strides with Fear The Shadow along backstretch; cleared near three-quarters; easily held off Old Buck in stretch; up in class.

 

Race 8:

(1) CIEL BLEU makes second consecutive start Lasix, which he has not been treated with since June 3, 2023; significant post/class relief; won going away for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon in latest Rideau start at similar classification August 22. (2) THATS HOOLIGAN stepped out from near last on Rideau first turn Thursday; flushed out winner Donatover before second turn; three-wide on last turn; gaining ground down stretch; field's-co-fastest (30.2) last quarter; class relief. (6) SOUTHWIND RUSSIAN jumped it off while gaining ground outside of breaker MSFRANNIE on first turn Thursday; would not reset; last win was from same post at this level August 15 for Stephane Pouliot. (3) SEVEN IRON retreated to second-last early Thursday; first-over move at quarter; steadily gained ground to half; parked remainder of mile; tired; up in class.

Race 9:

(2) RED CARPET READY makes third start for Marie-Claude Auger; paced her fastest-ever (1:55.2) mile here Thursday; offstride before start, but no break in the race; covered up/shuffled back from fourth on backstretch; loose late; passing horses in stretch traffic. (7) SAULSBROOK ANNIE easily wired from Rideau rail Thursday for Robert Shepherd; tougher post for rematch; held off Godiva Ice Cream and RED CARPET READY by diminishing margin; all closed in field's-co-fastest 29.1. (4) MONTERAY JACKIE returns to front tier; got away third from last Thursday in her first-ever start from trailing post; dropped back to last on backstretch; her only poor start since Sept. 8 Rideau debut for Mandy Archer. (1) D A CINNAMONCRUNCH gets major post relief in first drive by Jimmy Gagnon; overland trip Thursday. 

Race 10:

(6) DUKE LAVICTOIRE impressed in Thursday's Rideau Preferred Handicap; first to the front, leaving from rail; matched strides briefly with first-over Warrawee Xalt past quarter; pocket ride to three-quarters, when first-over challenger  MEADOWBRANCH NOBLE drew alongside; swung wide in stretch; ran out of racetrack; class relief. (5) CLEVELAND MASSIMO looks like Pascal Berube's possible choice over THE GREAT EMOTION, WISHYOUDTELLME and Thursday winner DONATOVER; gained ground first-over from second-last on backstretch Sept. 26; chased leader Match Meif You Can to wire; just missed; trotted field's-fastest (29.1) last quarter. (9) MEADOWBRANCH NOBLE won at this level from second tier August 22 for the returning Guy Gagnon; briefly first-over against Warrawee Xalt on backstretch in Thursday Preferred Handicap; dropped back on final turn; faded late. Beaten 3/2 fave (1) EYES OF JUSTICE returns to rail after Thursday's ground-saving trip; fourth early; covered up by DONATOVER on second turn; tipped to follow his cover on backstretch; three-wide at top of stretch; closed in field's-co-fastest 30.2. (4) KENOGAMI COCO was interfered with by offstride Msfrannie Thursday; briefly first-over from third at half; late rally up inside path in stretch; up in class; completes Hi-5.