Arrow Magic, despite having to make two moves and overcome a slight break in the backstretch, still had some left in the tank as the 26-1 long shot upset the field at Hippodrome 3R Sunday (July 25) in the opening round of the Future Stars Series.
The victory was one of four wins on the afternoon program for driver Stephane Brosseau.
The feature for two-year-old pacing colts, carded as race six, had 10 starters and saw the 1-9 favourite Titanium Alpha (Hes Watching) speed to the opening quarter mile in :28.4 for driver Pascal Berube with stablemate entry Ritchie Alpha (Shanghai Phil) and Stephane Gendron following with the pocket trip.
Berube backed it down with Titanium Alpha, going to the half in 1:01. That caused driver Brosseau to come first-over with Arrow Magic as they pressured the leader in the backstretch, became rough gaited — almost making a break — and then briefly dropped into the second spot.
At the three-quarters in 1:30.1, Brosseau came after Titanium Alpha again with Arrow Magic, this time not only collaring the leader, but taking command by the top of the stretch.
Arrow Magic found another gear down the stretch and pulled away from the field to win with ease by five lengths in 2:00.3. Titanium Alpha was second with stablemate Ritchie Alpha third.
At 26-1 odds, Arrow Magic paid $55.50 to win. It was the son of Big Jim’s first career triumph in two starts for trainer Gerald Demers and owner-breeder Aurel Harvey Et Fils Inc.
In the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing fillies, the non-wagering race saw Godiva Me Amour (Shanghai Phil) cut the early mile for Brosseau until the backstretch, when Amaya (Shanghai Phil) and Francis Picard came first-over and collared Godiva Me Amour by the three-quarters.
They raced as a team around the final turn with D Gs Shallow (Shadow Play) tipping three-wide to join the three-horse field. Just as it looked like Amaya would take the race, Godiva Me Amour came back in the stretch to win by a length in 2:05. Amaya was second with D Gs Shallow third.
It was the first win in four starts for Godiva Me Amour, who is trained by Lyne Asselin for owner-breeder Raymond Larose.
D Gs De Vito and driver Jonathan Lachance showed true grit in coming first-over from the half mile and grinding it out against pacesetter and 2-5 favorite Mickeymaksomespeed (Stephane Gendron) in the Preferred Pace.
Mickeymaksomespeed cut the fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:26.2, but it was D Gs De Vito and Lachance that came first-over and toughed it out in the stretch to win by a neck in 1:55.4 over Mickeymaksomespeed with Somewhere Bettor (Jocelyn Gendron third.
For D Gs De Vito, it was his fifth win this year. The five-year-old gelded son of Sportswriter is trained by Guylaine Fortin for owner-breeder Daniel Surprenant and paid $14.50 to win.
Four-time Québec-bred champion Capteur De Reve put an end to Choo Choo Blue’s two-race win streak, leading from start to finish in the Preferred Handicap Trot. Driven by Stephane Gendron, Capteur De Reve took the lead away from Choo Choo Blue (Stephane Brosseau) by the opening quarter mile and went on to win by a length in 1:59.2. Goaltender (Samuel Fillion) was third.
It was the second win in four starts for Capteur De Reve. The seven-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass is trained by Maxime Velaye for the Provoquante Stable. He paid $4.20 to win.
Jonathan Lachance had a driving double on the card. Louis-Philippe Roy, who was scheduled to drive at H3R Sunday, was unable to come from Ontario due to weather.
Live racing at H3R resumes next Friday (July 30) with the second leg of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotters. Post time Friday is 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following links: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R | Non-Wagering Race.
(Québec Jockey Club)