Canbec Fridolin Matches Track Record

Published: August 1, 2012 11:17 pm EDT

Canada's 2012 leading trainer Richard Moreau had lots to celebrate on Wednesday night as he climbed the Grand River Raceway standings with three wins and one track record.

Moreau teamed up with the track's top driver, Trevor Henry, to win three of the evening's 12 races with New Reigel Star ($2.50) in the first, Black Magic Eyes ($3) in the fourth and Canbec Fridolin ($12.40) in the fifth.

Canbec Fridolin's 1:56 triumph in his conditioning event over stablemate Zorgwijk Jock and Billy Davis Jr. matched Stormont Lancelot's older male trotting track record. The seven-year-old Cherry Hills gelding advanced to command from third after the :27.2 opening quarter and cleared at the :57.2 half-mile mark. He then trotted away by five lengths to three-quarters in 1:25.4 before cruising home for his fifth win of the season in 21 starts. Favourite Armbro Chronicle recovered from a break to finished third with Anthony MacDonald in the bike.

The 29-time career winner is owned by Claude Hamel of Ayer's Cliff, Que. and Lapharmaciedekedgwick Inc. of Kedgwick, N.B.

Moreau's training triple moves him into a tie for the top spot in the track's standings with Wayne Preszcator, who picked up one win with Victim Of Love ($4.90) in the $10,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace.

Driven by Robert Shepherd, the seven-year-old No Pan Intended mare advanced first over from third to win in 1:55.3. Sand Gesture and Henry came on for second one length behind the favourite while Michelles Idea and MacDonald settled for third after carving out early race fractions of :27.3, :57.4, and 1:26.4.

The winner of seven races in 26 seasonal starts is owned by Harness Racing Canada Inc. of Mississauga, Ont., Bill Andrew of Calgary, Alta., Fred Haskell of Strathroy, Ont., and Guy Haskell of Guelph, Ont.

In the evening's featured $11,000 Preferred 2 Trot, Sarkozy ($12.70) wore down the race leader and then held off the favourites to win for Team Baillargeon.

With Mario Baillargeon in the sulky, the 5-1 fourth choice settled in fourth place after leaving from the outside post six while last week's winner Indiana Hall and Henry fired to the front and posted an opening quarter of :28.2 and then took a middle panel breather to the half in :58.4. At the midway point, Baillargeon sent his charge first up and applied pressure to the leader as they raced to three-quarters in 1:28.2. Those two battled back and forth on top into the stretch with Sarkozy eventually gaining the upper hand and holding off the pylon-skimming Smokin Dabra, driven by J.R. Plante, and Lexis D J, who rallied wide off cover in rein to Ross Battin. Sarkozy won by a quarter length in 1:57.2.

Ben Baillargeon trains the six-year-old Credit Winner gelding for Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, Que. The victory was his third this year in 18 starts and 12th lifetime, pushing his bankroll over the $200,000 mark.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.

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