American Wiggle, in his debut at the Hippodrome 3R on Opening Day (Sunday, April 29), gave notice to his 29 potential competitors in the $200,000 Prix D’Ete later this season that he is ready for action, as he scored an impressive victory in the track’s Invitational-Handicapped Pace.

Mother Nature was not cooperative through the day, as constant rains made the track ‘sloppy’ with a three-second allowance.

The Sunday program marked the sixth opening day at ‘H3R’ for the Quebec Jockey Club, which purchased the track in 2012. The grounds were first developed for horse racing back in 1830.

Fans brave the weather for opening day at Hippodrome 3R (Image courtesy The Photo Desk)

The co-feature pace (Race 7) saw D J Power (driven by Pierre Luc Roy) determined to take the early lead, but he was parked out by El Torero (Denis Audet) to the opening quarter mile (:28.1).

In the second panel, Ninoscredit and driver Maxim Gaudreault tried coming first-over against D J Power, but the move was to no avail, as they passed the half-mile marker (:58.4). As they came off the turn was when driver Stephane Brosseau moved to the outside with American Wiggle and the complexion of the race changed.

Brosseau moved three-wide with American Wiggle and by the three quarters (1:28.3) they were able to get a minor breather behind the pacesetter D J Power.

On the final turn, Brosseau came out again with American Wiggle to challenge D J Power and they blew by them in the stretch to win going away by four lengths in 1:59.4. El Torero finished third.

American Wiggle, who is a four-year-old gelded son of American Ideal, is trained and co-owned by Daniel Martin of St Barnabe Nord with Gaston Bibeau of Sorel-Tracy. American Wiggle paid $4.20 to win.

For the track’s defending leading driver, Stephane Brosseau, the eighth race Invitational-Handicapped Trot capped the afternoon, as he won it with a tough Torches Angel in 2:03.

R Rkadabra and driver Pierre Luc Roy led the field early on, as the duo tripped the opening quarter timer in :29.1 with Torches Angel following his cover.

Brosseau then came first-over after the half mile in 1:01 with Rocky Boy (Marc Bellanger) following their second-over cover. Torches Angel was able to clear to the lead by the three quarters in 1:32.2, but Rocky Boy kept the pressure on around the final turn and into the stretch. Torches Angel kicked into another gear in the lane and won with ease by two lengths. Rocky Boy was second and Holiday Party (Pascal Berube) finished third.

For Torches Angel – one of only two mares in the field against older horses – it was third win this year for trainer Yves Tessier and owner Francois Morin of Beauceville, QC. She paid $4.10 to win.

The victory was the third winner on the day for Stephane Brosseau, who led all drivers during the wet afternoon.

Track Notes: The first race saw Machin A Trick ($5.80) and driver Pierre Luc Roy, the older brother of Canada’s top driver, Louis-Philippe Roy, lead from start to finish. The duo dug in throughout the stretch and went on to win by neck over race favourite Fortune Fella in 2:01.2.

Trainer Manon Lamothel was the only trainer to send out two winners on the day, both of which were driven by Daniel LaFlamme.

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

Live racing at the track will resume next Sunday (May 6), when first-race post time will be 12:50 p.m.

(Quebec Jockey Club)