Six-year-old mare Jimbelina may have been parked out four-wide in the backstretch and around the final turn, but the mare showed true grit and fortitude while winning at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Sept. 15).
Driven by Jocelyn Gendron, Jimbelina won the Fillies and Mares Preferred-Handicap Pace (Race 6) by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.2. It was the daughter of Big Jim’s fifth consecutive win and sixth victory of the season.
Uptown Woman (driven by Pascal Berube) ground it out to the lead over Sauble Bonnie (Stephane Brosseau) and was first to the quarter pole in :27.2.
Then, before the half mile in :57.1, Rainbow Palace (Francis Picard) came first-over, at which point Better Now (Stephane Gendron) grabbed the second-over cover, and Jimbelina and Gendron, the race favourite, angled out into the third-over slot.
The action then picked up in the backstretch. Gendron started up three-wide with Jimbelina, but was then shoved out four-wide when Better Now moved out further.
Jimbelina continued to gain ground despite being four-wide, cleared to the lead at the top of the stretch, and then went on to victory. Sauble Bonnie finished second and Rainbow Palace was third under the wire.
Jimbelina is trained by Jean Tourigny for owner Roland Trudel of Becancour and paid $3.30 to win.
In the Preferred-Handicap Pace for the horses (Race 7), there were two separate inquiries. One of the inquiries led to a decision which saw the winner, Maracasso, placed back to last due to a pylon infraction before the three-quarters pole.
Maracasso had gone on the win by four and one-half lengths in 1:55.3 before the disqualification.
Mister Big Top (Jocelyn Gendron), an 18-1 long shot was moved to first place. Surf Report (Tyler Jones) was placed second and Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) was placed third. Mister Big Top is trained by Yves Tessier and paid $39.30 to win.
Track Notes: Driver Pascal Berube led all horsemen on the day with a driving triple. Live racing will resume at the Hippodrome 3R next Sunday (Sept. 22), and first-race post time will be at 1:00 p.m. For more information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at H3R, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)