Series Quebecoises champion Paradise Moni returned to Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, Oct. 26 and stole the show in this week's $5,500 Preferred Handicap Trot for trainer/driver Kevin Maguire.

Paradise Moni left from post three and beat a pair to his outside off the gate. He carved out fractions of :29.3, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4 while the favoured mare, Rose Run Why Not, advanced into the pocket position for Pascal Berube. Rose Run Why Not moved back out heading into the homestretch to take her shot but Paradise Moni held off the 2-5 bettors' choice to win by a quarter of a length in 1:59 flat. Sophomore stakes star Mass Speed and Denis St. Pierre rounded out the top three.

Paradise Moni, who had been competing stateside at Saratoga Raceway since completing a sweep of the Series Quebecoises at 3R in early July, is perfect in five provincial starts this season. Overall, the four-year-old gelding has won 11 of his 27 races this year and now boasts 16 career wins with earnings totalling $116,568.    

The son of International Moni out of Jessies Song is owned by Ecuries Maguire Inc. of Sainte-Marie, Que., and Jean-Francois Maguire of Carlisle, Ont.

Paradise Moni paid $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice on the toteboard.

While Berube settled for second in the afternoon's feature, he did deliver five winning drives on the 11-race card. Berube's winners were Windsun Hudson ($14.20) for trainer Eric Milot, Century Larisa ($11.50) for Marc-Andre Simoneau, Shemaksmefelunreal ($4.80) for Andre Champagne, Dialmeup ($2.10) for Yves Tessier and American Zestar ($4.10) for David Pilon. 

A career winner of more than 3,500 races, the Portneuf, Que. reinsman is looking to wrap up his sixth consecutive driving title at 3R when action resumes next Sunday afternoon.

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

(Standardbred Canada)