Meganou Lowers 3R Record
One could say that Meganou was jealous that she had to share the track record she set last week at the Hippodrome 3R with National Trace.
So what does she do? How about wiring the field once again at 3R on Sunday, and rewriting the track record for two-year-old trotting fillies with a 2:02 lifetime mark for driver Jocelyn Gendron. Meganou romped against the field, winning by six and one-quarter lengths.
The mile took place in the third race, one of four preliminary rounds of the $300,000 Quebec-Bred Series for two-year-old trotters and pacers. This was the final preliminary rounds and now the top eight point earners after three weeks of elimination competition, will return next Sunday, September 7 for the $55,000 grand finales.
For Meganou, a daughter of Kadabra, it was her second straight victory and third triumph this year. She is trained by Daniel Martin and owned by Jean Picard of Orford, Que. Last week, both Meganou and National Trace won their respective divisions in 2:03.2, erasing a 21-year-old track record.
Meganou paid $3.90 to win. Intouchable (Guy Corbeil), one of two colts in the field, was second with Sunrise Linda (Yves Filion) third.
It took nearly 25 years to rewrite the track record for two-year-old pacing fillies last week as Kinnder Elegance set the new standard with a 1:57.4 victory.
Now it took just one week to tie that track record and it was done by a filly who was making her debut at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday.
My Fleet Three came to 3R for the first time to compete in the series and with Denis St Pierre driving her for the first time, wired the field in 1:57.4 and romping with ease by six and one-half lengths. Once she left the starting gate no horse was within three lengths of her the entire one mile race.
It was her maiden victory in four lifetime starts for the Richard Moreau trainee. Sired by Mach Three, My Fleet Three was bred and is owned by Gestion Mario Audet, Inc. of Yves Sarrazin, Que.
She paid $5.20 to win. Anna Santanna (Marie Auger) was second with VoodooCharm (Yves Filion) third.
In the first race, first division for two-year-old trotters, Double Chance took full advantage of a costly break by race leader Mini Torpedo (Yves Filion) at the three-quarter pole and came on to win by a half-length in 2:06.3 for driver Sylvain Lacaille.
It was a big upset for Double Chance as the daughter of Majestic Son went off at odds of 18-1 and paid $39.40 to win. The colt, Notrouble Dechafra (Stephane Brosseau), was second with C L Magic Road (Marie Auger) third.
She is trained by Serge Nadeau for owner/breeder Marcel Brouillard of St-Marcel-De-Richelieu, Que. It was her maiden victory after four career starts.
In the second race division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, it was Sugarsam and St Pierre repeating after their track record performance last week.
Grand Galop Semalu and trainer/driver Yves Filion going right out to the lead from the rail with Half A Billion (trainer/driver Marcel Barreau) sitting the two-hole trip through the opening quarter-mile in :28.4 and the half-mile in :59.3. It was in the backstretch that St Pierre sent Sugarsam after the leaders and they raced on the outside gaining ground with every stride past the three-quarters in 1:28.3. Then once straighten out in the stretch, Sugarsam kicked in a :28.3 last quarter mile to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:58.2 over Western Bayama (Rheo Filion) with Grand Galop Semalu third.
It was the second straight win and third victory this year for Sugarsam. The gelded son of Sportswriter is trained by Helene Fillion for owner/breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Que.
He paid $6.20 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)