On Saturday afternoon, Hippodrome Gatineau hosted a trio of $12,000 Quebec Plus Distinction divisions for three-year-old colts and the fan favourites delivered with dominating performances in their respective splits.
Cherry Grove picked up his first win of the season for driver and trainer Yves Filion in the first division. The son of Western Ideal left from Post 6 as the second choice Paco Dery (Denis Filion) and Godiva Speedway (Guy Gagnon) broke stride, interfering with Tresor Angus (Stephane Gendron).
Cherry Grove set the pace with opening panels of :29.1 and 1:00.1 before facing a first-over challenge from Ok Mnm (Mario Charron) through the third quarter in 1:29.3. The bay colt kicked away by a length and a half for the win in 1:59 flat. C L Eighty (Marcel Barrieau) was third.
The win was his sixth lifetime score for co-owners Jan Feldman of Pennington and Thomas Bittner of Hamilton, New Jersey. His earnings total $31,788.
In the second and fastest division, V P Panic and driver Stephane Gendron took command of the field posting panels of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28.1 en route to victory in 1:58.2.
Golder (Marcel Barrieau) finished almost four lengths back in second and Tyrex Jimmy (Mario Lachance) was third.
The Colin Johnson trainee by Northwest increased his earnings to $28,972 with his fifth lifetime score for owner Brian Paquet of Quebec, Que.
The final split went to En Katimini, owned by Maude Emilie Landry of Ange Gardien, Que., after posting a 2:00.1 score.
With Pascal Berube in the bike, the Electric Stena gelding posted opening fractions of :29.2 and 1:00.1. The Denis Gueriel pupil took on a challenge from longshot Newparrty (Pierre Bovay) through a 1:29.3 third quarter, prevailing by two and a half lengths. LM Khayama (Mario Charron) recovered from an early miscue to take the show spot.
En Katimini, a winner of $33,876 in lifetime earnings, improved his seasonal record to 5-4-0 in 10 starts.
To view the charted lines from Saturday, click here.