Hammering Haley Best At 3R

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Published: August 2, 2020 03:49 pm EDT

Despite racing over a rain-soaked track with a two-second allowance, Hammering Haley was at her best on the front end, capturing the Mares Preferred Handicap Pace on Sunday (Aug. 2) at Hippodrome 3R.

Favourite Wild River Swan (Francis Picard) took the early lead over Hammering Haley and driver Pierre-Luc Roy by the opening quarter in :29.1, but the lead changed right away as Roy quarter-moved with Hammering Haley to take command. After a :59.3 half, D Gs Fairystars (Stephane Brosseau) advanceed first-over to challenge with Godiva Mackiavelyc (Stephane Gendron) following second-over. D Gs Fairystars tried her best, but could not pass by Hammering Haley past three-quarters in 1:29. At this point, Wild River Swan was boxed in behind Hammering Haley.

As they started down the stretch, daylight opened on the pylons and Wild River Swan charged through, but it was too late as a determined Hammering Haley held off Wild River Swan by a head in 1:59.4. Way Over (Simon Delisle) was third.

It was the third win this season for Hammering Haley, a five-year-old Shanghai Phil mare trained and co-owned by Francis Richard with Gaston Bibeau and Charles Marquis. She paid $6.90 to win.

In a two-year-old pacing event on the undercard, Realxample used two moves and some true grit in a 6-1 upset.

Loud (Marc Bellanger) shot right out to the early lead with Realxample leaving for driver Richard Veilleux and grabbing the two-hole spot by the opening quarter.

Loud led the field past the half and through the backstretch when Veilleux vacated the pocket with Realxample to come after Loud. Those two raced neck and neck around the final turn and down the stretch, until Realxample wore the pacesetter down and won by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.3. Full Power Sena (Steeven Genois) was third.

It was the maiden victory for Realxample after five lifetime starts. The So Surreal colt trained by Alain Veilleux and owned by La Ferme Drummond Inc. paid $15.40 to win.

Hippodrome 3R will have a full weekend of live harness racing next week as the track hosts the Québec Regional Fair Circuit on Saturday (Aug. 8). Friday (Aug. 7) post time is 4 p.m., and post time on Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 8 and 9) is 1 p.m. Next Sunday kicks off the Québec-bred stakes with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. There are three rounds of preliminary competition for each age, sex and gait leading up to $65,000 finals for three-year-olds and $55,000 finals for two-year-olds to be held on Sunday, Sept. 27.

For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.

(Québec Jockey Club)

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