In a showdown of stablemates shooting for a sweep of the Series Quebecoises trot preliminaries, Paradise Moni got the better of Royalty Beer with a convincing victory off cover at Hippodrome 3R on Thursday, June 25.

Royalty Beer, a dominant winner in the first two legs, left sharply from the outside post eight for Pascal Berube and was strung out by post-two starter Last Try (Francis Picard) before landing on the lead before the quarter in :29.1. Denis St. Pierre dropped Paradise Moni back off the gate and refused a seat in the six-hole, instead opting to follow Im Just A Gigolo (Steeven Genois) down the  backstretch the first time. Paradise Moni tracked the helmet past the half in :59.3 and around to the backside, shifting three-wide as Im Just A Gigolo wavered nearing three-quarters in 1:29. Paradise Moni surged to level terms with Royalty Beer, his fellow Kevin Maguire trainee and coupled entry, and cleared him as they straightened for home. He then cruised down the lane to win the $6,000 event by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58.4. Last Try overtook Royalty Beer late for second.

Paradise Moni has won four straight starts after beginning the season winless in eight. The defending Series Quebecoises champion is now 20-for-57 lifetime and has earned $137,488. Ecuries Maguire Inc. of Sainte-Marie, Que. and Jean-Francois Maguire of Carlisle, Ont. own the five-year-old International Moni-Jessies Song gelding. The entry of Paradise Moni/Royalty Beer returned $2.40.

Chic Choc Rose, who raced from off the pace in the first two legs, made an early push to the front in the $6,000 Series Quebecoises division for mares and was in control from there to win in 1:59.2. She was fourth of five at the entry to the first turn, but Pascal Berube called for speed to mobilize her to the top in a :29.3 opener. She enjoyed a soft second panel, reaching the half in 1:00.1, then quickened on the third turn to repel first-over Mvps Daughter (Francis Picard). That rival slid in behind the pacesetter as pocket-sitter Greenleaf (Steeven Genois) went on a gallop going to three-quarters in 1:29.2. Mvps Daughter pulled out for a stretch rally but did not trouble Chic Choc Rose, who coasted home a one-length winner. Stella Alpha (Stephane Brosseau) was third.

Chic Choc Rose went two-for-three in the series prelims and is four-for-19 this season for trainer Carl Duguay. Duguay of Trois-Rivieres, Que. co-owns the daughter of Royalty For Life-Torches Angel with Investissement KFB of Sorel-Tracy, Que. The four-year-old has won 17 of 47 career starts and has built a bankroll of $173,212. She paid $2.50 to win.

The final of the Series Quebecoises for aged trotters is set for July 5 at Hippodrome 3R.

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

(Standardbred Canada)