Appleby Hanover inherited the victory in the 108th running of the $10,000 Le 5 Milles Casino-Charlevoix on Sunday afternoon (August 12) at the Hippodrome de la Vallée in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, Que.
Owned and trained by Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit, Que., Appleby Hanover completed the five-mile, 10-lap marathon in just over 12 minutes, finishing a half-length behind the disqualified winner Montana Ben.
Dany Mainguy drove the five-year-old Well Said son, who has earned nine wins lifetime from 52 starts and just under $40,000 in purses.
Adventure Luck, who finished 25 lengths behind, was promoted to second while defending champion Niceandup was bumped up to third. Montana Ben was placed fifth for causing interference to El Torero during the race.
The all-time track record for a mile was rewritten on the pace and tied in the trot on the Sunday card of the two-day set.
The fastest horse in St-Aimé-des-Lacs history is now Brussebeach, a seven-year-old Shadow Play gelding who had set a since-eclipsed track record at St-Joseph-de-Lepage earlier in the summer. He is the outright swiftest St-Aimé-des-Lacs side-wheeler after a 1:56.1 mile while going for all of $900. (A $3,500 Invitational had a slowish pace and went in only 1:58.3).
Brussebeach was guided by Francis Picard, the only horseman to have a double on the day, for trainer Harold Duguay, co-owner with Dr. John Bradbury. The former local standard was 1:57, set by Bali two years ago.
Holiday Party equalled the all-time track record on the trot at the track, which is some 80 miles northeast of Quebec City, with a 2:01.4 victory despite being parked the mile in the $3,500 Invitational. The time matched the 2013 record achieved by the cleverly-named Revonah Hanover.
Holiday Party, third on Thursday in his $30,000 Quebec-bred Championship at Hippodrome 3R after setting a fast pace, was handled by Pascal Berube for trainer Isabelle Binet and Groupe Holiday Party.
In all, there were five sub-2:00 miles on Sunday, and eight for the two-day meet – not a very common feat on the Quebec Circuit Regionale.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs.
(With files from the Quebec Regional Circuit)