Michelangelo led at every call in Rideau Carleton Raceway's featured $6,650 Winners Over Handicap Trot on Sunday night (March 13) as part of a grand slam for trainer Chelsea Knapp.

 

Driven by Richard Simard, Michelangelo trotted out to the lead from post five and maintained a two-length advantage as he posted panels of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.3 with Four Starz Speed (Pierre Desjardins) giving up on a first over challenge. Favourite Rocky Boy (Jacques Beaudoin) was pulled from the pocket coming to the head of the stretch, but Michelangelo tacked on another length to his leading margin down the lane before hitting the wire in 1:57.1. Early trailer Broadway Prince (Ted McDonald) closed from the outer flow to edge out Rocky Boy for the runner-up honours.

 

Michelangelo paid $6.80 to win. Knapp owns the seven-year-old Angus Hall gelding, who is two-for-seven this year and has won 39 races and $189,006 in purses lifetime.

 

Simard also drove Nothingbutmach to victory during the 13-race program for Knapp. Also part of the grand slam were the season-debuting C C Callmekelly (Darrell Coville) and Terrorcam (Ted McDonald), now three-for-three since joining the Knapp stable in late-February.

 

Jamie Copley enjoyed a training triple himself while Stephane Lareau had the most driving most on the night with four.