Gagnon Wins At Rideau

On Sunday, May 19, at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Guy Gagnon was almost unstoppable. The current top driver guided five winners on the card, including a sweep of both $10,000 Preferreds during the 11-race program.

As a trainer and driver, Gagnon won the first race on the card with Conquest Seelster and then repeated the feat with The Light Speed in the Preferred Pace. While Smooth Lou (Samuel Fillion) battled to the outside of Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) to take the field to the first quarter in:27.1, Gagnon and the 1-5 favourite could see them all from fifth early. After Gagnon angled The Light Speed off of the pylons from sixth to start his first-over voyage, Smooth Lou cleared to the lead and led at the halfway point in:56.1. With strong acceleration, the Light Speed passed the lead on the backstretch and advanced to the front at three-quarters of a mile in 1:23.3, eventually moving over to the rail.

Jet Rock trailed The Light Speed into the last bend, whereupon The Light Speed took the lead and Jet Rock now shadowed from second. After the backside brush, Jet Rock got his opportunity up the inside, but The Light Speed showed enough strength to hold sway to the wire by a half-length in 1:51.4. Pascal Berube's Light The Torch came back to finish third, completing the trifecta.

The Light Speed has already won six times this season and 51 times overall. He has won three consecutive and five of his last six races. Now six years old, the gelded son of Moon Beam-Jayma has amassed an extravagant $367,714 in career earnings for his owner, Michel Nolette.

Leading trainer Mandy Archer won the following three races on Gagnon's list, including the Preferred Handicap trot in the seventh. Taking the lead early on the 4-5 favourite Meadowbranch Noble from post five, Gagnon wasted no time in taking the lead and cutting the first quarter in:27.2. Meadowbranch Noble reached the halfway point in:57.1, taking a breather en route to that station. The leader was approached by Donatover (Robert Robinson), who closed the gap to within a length of him as the pace increased to three-quarters in 1:25.2.

On the last circuit, Meadowbranch Noble turned for home with two lengths between himself and the field, snubbing Donatover's challenge. Meadowbranch Noble had enough left over after Gagnon's request to cross the line 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Ima Standup Guy (Robert Shepherd), the stablemate of Archer, who closed for second. Third place went to Warrawee Xalt (Ryan Guy), who had been keeping a tight pocket the entire mile.

After 13 races in 2024, Meadowbranch Noble has now won five times. The last six of his wins came in his last six starts. The seven-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter-Wen Mars Memo is owned by Jamie Copley. He has won 16 times in his career and has a $256,049 career bankroll. On the Sunday night card, the Gagnon/Archer combination also triumphed with Irresistible and Hurrikanekingcarlo.