The $38,500 Lucien Bombardier Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies was contested on Sunday (September 10) at Hippodrome 3R, and the Jacques Dupont-trained and Louis Philippe Roy-driven Azure Seelster put forth a dominant performance.

Roy bided his time early with Azure Seelster, as he allowed Lit De Rose (driven by Pierre Luc Roy) to go to the early lead. Azure Seelster was just a head off the lead when Lit De Rose clicked off the opening quarter in :27.4. From there, Azure Seelster brushed to the lead and the race was pretty much over.

Azure Seelster went on to post middle splits of :58 and 1:28.4 before drawing off to record a six-length win in 1:58.4.

Lit De Rose finished second. Post 1 starter DGs Shadowsbell (Jonathan Lachance) finished almost nine lengths back of Azure Seelster in third. Cold Creek Lacey and Katniss S BG picked up the final cheques, respectively.

Azure Seelster was part of a three-way coupled entry with interlocking ownership (Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc., 9099 3833 Quebec Inc, 2745 5815 Quebec Inc., and Paul Lehoux).

Azure Seelster, who is a daughter of Shadow Play, is out of Winbak Alice, whose dam, Lady Camella, was bred to Shadow Play and produced no less than the $1.9M-winning world champion Lady Shadow. Azure Seelster was purchased for $55,000 at the 2016 Forest City Yearling Sale.

Bombardier, who is a member of the Canadian Harness Racing Hall of Fame, had a career of over 50 years in the Standardbred sport, during which he progressed through the ranks from horseman to administrator/executive to one of the great organizers and builders of the sport, especially in his native Quebec.

There were enough fast-class trotters to have two divisions of the Invitational, the ‘Or’ (Gold) and the ‘Argent’ (Silver).

In the top class, which went for $8,000, the Broadway Hall gelding Unabating had to live up to his name, as he was parked most of the mile, yet still managed to hang on to the wire. He stopped the timer in 2:00.1 to run his 2016-17 record to 21 wins from 48 starts. Guy Gagnon is the driver and trainer of Unabating for owner Catheline Pelletier.

In the $5,000 second-level trot, the Kadabra gelding Tuscans Memory had to go the tough first-over route, but she proved game and turned back a closely-packed group at the wire to win in 2:00.3. Jocelyn Gendron had the sulky duty behind the six-time seasonal winner for trainer Pierre Ouellette Jr. and the ownership of 9172-3161 Quebec Inc.

Contrasting the trotting situation, the Invitational pace did not fill this week, so the Royal Mattjesty mare Rainbow Palace, who defeated ‘the boys’ in an August 27 Invite, was able to get into the top fast-class pace of the day, worth $3,800, via an also-eligible condition. Rainbow Palace took full advantage of the opportunity, as the Dominique Picard-trained distaff was quarter-moved by owner/driver Francis Picard and increased her margin in the last stanza, as she finished by herself in 1:55.4.

To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.

(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)