Two-year-old pacing colts and fillies were on display at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday afternoon (July 23) in three divisions of the opening round of the Future Stars Series.

There were two $7,500 divisions for the fillies and one $10,000 division for the colts and geldings. After three preliminary rounds, the top eight point-earners will return Sunday, Sept. 10 for their respective $55,000 finals.

The colts and geldings were featured in the ninth race where favourite Olaf Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) took the early lead with Ambitious Mind (Francis Picard) enjoying the two-hole trip for most of the mile race. Cutting fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29, Olaf Du Lac was comfortable on the lead until past the three-quarters when Picard approached first-over to challenge Olaf Du Lac with Ambitious Mind. Those two locked horns from the top of the stretch all the way to the finish where Ambitious Mind got up to win by a head in 1:59. Gold Nugget (William Roy) was third.

The win was the second straight for the unbeaten Ambitious Mind (pictured above) and a new lifetime mark. He is trained by Dominique Picard for owners Severine Picard, Martin Bilodeau and Claude Thibault. The Big Jim gelding was bred by Francis Picard. He paid $8.80 to win.

The first of the filly divisions was the fifth race where The Heart Valley (Francis Picard) cut the mile while race favourite Ronda Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) sat the two-hole trip through fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.3. On the final turn, Roy tipped out with Ronda Du Lac to take on The Heart Valley and they went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00. YS La Belle Vie (Pascal Berube) was third.

The career-debuting Ronda Du Lac was bred by Roy’s brother, Louis-Philippe Roy, who shares ownership with Maude Larouche, Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire. David Pilon trains the Shadow Play filly. She paid $6.20 to win.

In the seventh race, second division of the Future Stars Series for the pacing fillies, Breedingbankrupsy (Pascal Berube) led right from the start. Leaving from post one, Berube put Breedingbankrupsy right on the lead, forcing Majely Beach Girl (Simon Delisle) into the two-hole at the first quarter in :31.4. From there, Breedingbankrupsy led past the half-mile in 1:02.4 and to the three-quarters in 1:33.1 then pulled away from the field in the stretch to win with ease by six lengths in 2:03.2. YS Flowernumberten (Francis Picard) was second with Majely Beach Girl third.

Breedingbankrupsy also won at first asking for her connections. The Sportswriter filly is trained and was bred by Marc-Andre Simoneau, who co-owns with the Desjardins Noreau Stable and Jean Fontaine. She paid $3.30 to win as the wagering favourite.

The fastest mile of the afternoon was in the eighth race, the $7,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, as Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) was able to wire the field in 1:54.4. The four-year-old Shadow Play gelding held the field at bay throughout the mile, winning by 2-1/2 lengths over D Gs De Vite (Jonathan Lachance) and JJ Tommy (Robert Shepherd). The win was the second in six starts this season for Aladdin. He is trained by Maxime Velaye for owner/breeder Guy Corbeil. The winner paid $4.10 as the betting favourite.

Brosseau swept the Preferreds as he also worked out a winning overland trip for trailing tier starter Celia Bayama in the sixth race Mares  Handicap class, besting Kiss Me Bad (Steven Gagnon) by a quarter-length in 1:56.4 with the front-stepping favourite Twin B Betty (Robert Shepherd) third. The five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight paid $14.90 to win.Trainer Jean-Francois Reid shares ownership of the repeat winner with Marie-Claude Reid and Mario Menard. The win was her third in nine outings this year.

Live racing resumes at 3R on Friday, July 28 with the second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. Post time is 4 p.m. 

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.

(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)