Despite being parked from an outside start for the second week in a row, the fiery pacer Light The Torch persevered for a repeat victory in the $5,500 Preferred Handicap in front of the Mother's Day crowd on Sunday afternoon, May 11 at Hippodrome 3R.

As post three starter Bets Beach and Denis St. Pierre took command of the nine-horse field off the gate, 1-5 favourite Light The Torch raced wide into the first turn and passed a pair of parked pacers in the three-path with Pascal Berube setting his sights on the leader through a :28.2 quarter. Light The Torch continued to chase after Bets Beach and met up with him as they turned in front of the grandstand the first time to battle past the half in :57.1. Light The Torch kept at him down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:26.1 and put away the pacesetter in the final turn en route to another impressive victory in 1:55.1. Self Made and Stephane Brosseau followed 1-1/2 lengths behind while Perpetual Rock and Marie-Claude Auger rounded out the top three.

Locally owned by trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau and Jean Fontaine, Light The Torch is now two-for-two at the 3R meet after starting his five-year-old season with four other top three finishes in the Preferred ranks at Rideau Carleton Raceway. A career winner of 18 races, the Always B Miki-Surfer Chick gelding now sports a bankroll totalling $126,929. Light The Torch paid $2.60 to win.

Simoneau also got four-year-old pacer Handsoffnosein ($4.60) back to the winner's circle for the first time since his freshman campaign with a 2:00.3 score on Sunday while teaming up again with Berube, who had a driving grand slam on the 10-race card.

While 3R's top trainer and driver continued to rack up victories at the new meet, a new trainer emerged on the scene and celebrated her first career win. Local horsewoman Vanessa Boisvert-Dontigny, 29, won her first start as a trainer when Jimbelina ($6.50) made a successful season's debut in 1:58.4 after driver Marie-Claude Auger moved the 12-year-old pacing mare first-up with a lap to go. The Big Jim-Buddys Gal mare is owned by Robert Dontigny.

Quebec stakes champion Mass Speed ($17.30) won his sophomore debut over older trotters in 2:00.4, adding to a four-race win streak that closed out his rookie campaign. Denis St Pierre drove the Michel Allard homebred son of Muscle Mass out of Missionoftheheart, reeling in the tiring leader after the 1-9 favourite broke stride in the final turn.

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

(Standardbred Canada)