The winners in the $10,000 Trophée des Éleveurs preliminary divisions at Hippodrome 3R on Thursday, Aug. 20 came from opposite ends of public opinion as 1-9 favourite Silver Pride and 23-1 longshot Kinnder Top Class scored in the contests for three-year-old trotters.

Silver Pride shot out of the five hole to lead into the first turn in the filly split and solidified her control with a give-and-go, allowing Double Vie (Simon Delisle) by and immediately retaking past a :29.1 quarter. Her lead swelled as Double Vie jumped it off going to the half in :59.4, but Abby Rose Men (Marie-Claude Auger) closed the pocket as they came down the backstretch. Silver Pride had an unchallenged reign through three-quarters in 1:30 and muscled away by 5-3/4 lengths to take her second win in the series in 1:59.4. Trixie Charm (Pascal Berube) rallied up the inside for second over Abby Rose Men.

Silver Pride has hit the board in all 13 starts this year with seven wins, five seconds and a third. She is now nine-for-20 lifetime with $65,590 in earnings. Jean-Francois Maguire trains the Alarm Detector-Hallywood Hills filly for owner-breeder Silver Stables of Venise-en-Quebec, Que. The win price was $2.10.

Kinnder Top Class took his chance for driver Simon Delisle when inheriting an early lead in the male division. He raced third behind Magic Liam (Marie-Claude Auger) and Saltimbanco (Jocelyn Gendron) into the opening bend, and both of those foes broke entering the backstretch, allowing Kinnder Top Class to shoot through to the front. Both horses regained stride, but Kinnder Top Class maintained separation through :31, 1:01.1 and 1:31.2 fractions and strolled to the line for the 1-1/2-length win in 2:02.2. Magic Liam sprinted up for second over Saltimbanco.

Kinnder Top Class secured his second lifetime win in nine starts, upping his bankroll to $11,400. Breeder Denitza Petrova trains the son of Trixton-Majestic Joy, now two-for-six this year, for Gest Michel Carrier Inc. of Pintendre, Que. and Gestion Jean Carrier Inc. of Levis, Que. The winner returned $48.

Paradise Moni missed the start from post eight in the $7,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, but that only gave the gelding the opportunity to repeat the last-to-first heroics that brought him victory in his prior start in the top class. Denis St. Pierre had him in the trailing spot through :29.1 and :59.3 early panels, pulled him fifth-over for the third turn, and let him loose three-wide going down the back. In a near-identical move to his Jul. 30 victory, Paradise Moni stormed through three-quarters in 1:30 to strike the front on the last turn. Rose Run Why Not (Pascal Berube) brought a strong stretch sprint but was a length short as Paradise Moni prevailed in 1:59.2. Prince Of Sussex (Francis Picard) finished third.

Paradise Moni, winner of the Series Quebecoises earlier this year, is eight-for-17 on the season. Kevin Maguire trains the son of International Moni-Jessies Song, who won for the 24th time in 62 lifetime outings and has now earned $162,488. Ecuries Maguire Inc. of Sainte-Marie, Que. and Jean-Francois Maguire of Carlisle, Ont. own the gelding. The win payout was $4.30.

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

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Silver Pride winning on Aug. 20)