Rideau Carleton Program Selections for Wednesday, June 18

BEST BET – (2) MARGOSGOTTHECARGO – R3

SPOT PLAY – (1) IMA DUDE – R5

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

Early Pick 4 (R2-5): 5,4,2/2,6/1,6,5,3/1,6 = $9.60     
Middle Pick 4 (R4-7): 1,6,5,3/1,6/2,4,1,7/4,1 = $12.80
Late Pick 4 (R7-10): 4,1/5,6,4,2/3,2,1/2,3 = $9.60

(20-cent combinations)

Race 1:

(2) TAMARA HANOVER is reunited with Guy Gagnon/Mandy Archer after claim; got away last in similar company Wednesday; gapping throughout mile; absolutely flying down the stretch; field and card's-fastest (27.2) closing quarter. (4) BEAUTY IS BLIND cut fractions Wednesday; parked first-over fave GIMMIE A CORONA along backstretch; gave way in stretch; overtaken late; brave effort. (6) THE TURNING POINT stepped out first-over from fifth approaching second turn Wednesday; flushed out GIMMIE A CORONA; second-over fourth on backstretch/final turn; three-wide for stretch drive; clear show finisher. Winning 1/5 fave (5) GIMMIE A CORONA finally cleared pacesetting BEAUTY IS BLIND mid-stretch for latest victory; claimed; loses Guy Gagnon to TAMARA HANOVER.

Race 2:

(5) CLEVELAND Z FLASH broke maiden from off the pace Wednesday; gapping sixth on first turn; tipped first-over from fifth approaching three-quarters; closed widest and fastest (29 flat) to win for the returning Robert Shepherd; up in class. (4) MICHE CHARM battled fast-leaving Dominion off the gate Wednesday; couldn't clear; backed down to pocket before quarter; swung three-wide at top of stretch; barely held off STORMONT FRIENDLY for place. (2) FLASHMESOMEGREEN sat third along pylons early Wednesday; first-over move to the front past opening quarter; gradually cleared Southwind Mac; led into stretch, where he was momentarily overtaken by Southwind Mac; fought back for place behind three-wide winner CLEVELAND Z FLASH; up in class. (3) STORMONT FRIENDLY quickly backed down to third behind Dominion on Wednesday; late move up inside path for show behind MICHE CHARM. 

Race 3:

(2) MARGOSGOTTHECARGO crushed going-away in June 8 qualifier; beat four other pacers; field's-co-fastest (28 flat) closing quarter; class relief from where she ended last season; looks like Robert Shepherd's choice over SPEAKER NANCY. (6) SAUBLE AMBER and Michel Lagace wired in mixed company Sunday at Hippodrome 3R; parked Major Hill from backstretch to half; held off late pressure from first-over Mybitcoin; up in class. (3) HORIZON SEELSTER blasted to the lead from Rideau rail June 4; overtaken by D A TEMPTATION past opening quarter; loose late after pocket ride; Mybitcoin stung both in final strides. (5) D A CINNAMONCRUNCH was caught wide leaving Wednesday; backpedaled to second-last behind leader Make It Come True; second-over move from second-last on final turn; closed wide, gapping cover, well behind top three; back in all-mares company, where she hasn't missed the Rideau superfecta this meet. 

Race 4:

(1) MASOTERAPEUTE and Jonathan Lapointe pocketed up behind pacesetting Royal Mass at Hippodrome 3R Friday; caught in on final turn; loose late upside path; returns to rail. Maiden (6) SOUTHWIND MAC was first to the front for Guy Gagnon Wednesday; cleared by Flashmesomegreen in front of grandstand; left pocket on fnal turn; couldn't catch that rival or three-wide winner Cleveland Z Flash in deep stretch. (5) DIARA was parked fifth on first turn Wednesday by breaker Very Busy; gapping fourth along pylons to half; gaining ground late in field's-second-fastest 29.2, well behind top three. (3) SILVER PORSCHE finds post relief; backpedaled off the gate to sit last early Wednesday; second-over from last in front of grandstand, well behind first-over Flashmesomegreen; settled sixth behind Cleveland Z Flash approaching second turn; lacked late momentum. 

Race 5:

(1) IMA DUDE pocketed up to win 11/1 for Stephane Pouliot in previous start from Rideau rail, May 28 at lower classification; left strongly Wednesday to settle third early at odds of 25/1; followed leader Bayfield Beach single-file third along backstretch; caught inside first-over Lovemyrockinbird from three-quarters into stretch; outsprinted late. (6) MONTYSGONEMARBLE sprinted to early command Sunday for Marie-Claude Auger; overtaken by first-over Skylar on first turn; caught inside of Arson Seelster along backstretch; outsprinted in stretch; class relief. (5) SPRINGBRIDGE JIM hasn't missed board in last two for Robert Shepherd, despite class jump; up in class again. (4) ATEYATEFNGERSLOUIE and Ryan Guy wired on June 9, 2024 class drop; got away single-file fourth behind 1/9 fave Dylans Bank Sunday; late move up inside path fell short in battle for show, well behind top two; quick turnaround. 

Race 6: 

(2) SILVERADO joins forces with Guy Gagnon for the first time since setting the pace in Oct. 30, 2022 Rideau place finish; strong record together: won this gelding's Dec. 3, 2017 Rideau debut, plus another 2 of 5 starts. (4) POOTIE CAT takes on mixed company; backed down to second-last off the gate Wednesday for Ryan Guy, now driving STAR DOG; third-over from sixth along backstretch; closed widest of all for fourth; class relief. (1) MIDNIGHT MOOD was overtaken by SILVERADO early Wednesday; stepped out first-over from fourth approaching second turn; challenged leader Mae Lose Control from first-over second along backstretch; parked; began losing ground on final turn; held on for show. Class-dropping (7) STAR DOG finished third from same post position, at higher level Sunday; sat third behind pacesetting Sunny Bo throughout mile; covered up on final turn; loose late. (3) BETTER CATCH GIRL also finds class relief; completes Hi-5. 

Race 7:

(4) TRIX AND STONES reeled in leader FIX A DRINK June 4 after sitting single-file third to the half; flushed out at half; first-over along backstretch; opened up on lead past three-quarters; held off closers Global Moni and Saulsbrook Cami late; needed wire. 

(1) SYNERGY S gets post/class relief; wired from Rideau rail April 30; took back to second-last off the gate June 4; closed wide for fourth, well behind top three finishers. (2) HATIKVAH won from same post, higher classification from off the pace here Dec. 8; gapping second-last to quarter Wednesday; first-over move from fifth on final turn in spaced-out field; closed for show, many open lengths behind Cadillac and Miles Of Muscle. (5) FIX A DRINK was judges' scratch Wednesday; beaten 4/5 fave set pace June 4; parked TRIX AND STONES along backstretch; gave way at three-quarters; back class. 

Race 8:

(5) SONOFAMILLIONAIRE and Robert Shepherd sat second-last to the half Wednesday; covered up at the half by Rose Run Why Not; three-wide on final turn; hunted down MYSTIC; drew away at the wire for first Rideau Preferred victory. (6) EMMA TOWN BUD returns after capturing three straight Rideau Preferred Handicaps for Pierre Bovay. (4) MYSTIC raced single-file fourth behind pacesetting RAISING RUSTY and then IMPRESSIVE DUDE Wednesday; flushed out on second turn by Rose Run Why Not; drew alongside IMPRESSIVE DUDE on backstretch; led at top of the stretch. Beaten 6/5 fave (2) IMPRESSIVE DUDE was parked by fast-leaving RAISING RUSTY past a 27.2 opening quarter Wednesday; faded late after two distinct battles. 

Race 9:

(3) DAY DELIGHT gains class/post relief; quick turnaround; second-over fourth behind first-over I Ama Rocket Sunday; started up again, first-over from fourth on second turn; parked fourth along backstretch; faded late. (2) TIME TO DANCING closed impressively from post #8 for place finish at odds of 24/1 behind Bayfield Beach Wednesday; second-over from dead last at the half; Stephane Pouliot takes the lines after overland trip for Melanie Plourde; closed in field's-fastest 28.2; post relief. (1) CAPTAINOFROCKNROLL moves in from outside post; quick turnaround; up in class; reunited with Guy Gagnon, aboard for his June 1 victory from the Rideau rail; second-over in front of the grandstand Sunday, following stalled cover of Arson Seelster; three-wide at top of the stretch; closed in field's-fastest 28.2 for show. (4) MAE LOSE CONTROL steps up in class after Sunday victory; pocket ride behind Sunny Bo; late move up inside path; now 2 for 2 at Rideau. 

Race 10:

(2) ROSE RUN WHY NOT drops in from Rideau Preferred Handicap; first-over from back of field approaching second turn Wednesday; flushed out Mystic; followed his cover along backstretch; caught in approaching top of the stretch as Sonofamillionaire went wide; never backed down; post relief. (3) WISHYOUDTELLME was first to the front in Wednesday's Preferred Handicap; dropped back to third behind Impressive Dude and Raising Rusty before quarter; caught in/shuffled back past the half, as Mystic and ROSE RUN WHY NOT gained ground along backstretch; rallied late for show; class relief. (8) CIEL BLEU makes his first Ottawa start since winning from post #7 on class hike May 28; edged out ROSE RUN WHY NOT by a nose that race; parked/distanced Friday in Quebec-bred Series at Hippodrome 3R. (5) STOMPER TOM got his first 2025 victory Wednesday; first to the front; inherited lead after Donatover broke on backstretch; held off Armstead Fireball and MASK OF ZORO; up in class. (4) GLOBAL MONI completes Hi-5; post relief; parked last to opening quarter Wednesday; returned to pylons, but tried again at three-quarters, following cover of place finisher Armstead Fireball down the stretch for fifth.