With a strong first-over burst to take command of the race after the three-quarter mile mark, Champagne Shower tied the track record for aged pacing mares at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday in scoring her fourth straight win.

Competing in the first race division of the $125,000 Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old mares, Champagne Shower and driver Denis St Pierre showed that patience is a virtue.

It was Victoria Semalu and driver Stephane Brosseau who left quickly from the rail post position to take command and stuff the 3-5 wagering favourite, My Tallia Ideal, who left from post four for driver Stephane Gendron, behind her in second-place.

They raced to the opening quarter in :27 seconds and then to the half-mile marker in :56.4 with no retaliation action from My Tallia Ideal, who last week tied the track record for older mares with a 1:54.3 win in the series.

Meanwhile, St Pierre and Champagne Shower sat patiently in third-place until the field started down the backstretch. Then at the three-quarters in 1:26.1, he sent Champagne Shower after pacesetter Victoria Semalu and blew by them on the final turn and turned on the afterburners in the stretch to win by four and three-quarter lengths in 1:54.3. In a close battle for second-place, My Tallia Ideal edged out Victoria Semalu.

The win was the win this season for Champagne Shower, who is sired by Santanna Blue Chip, for trainer Yves Tessier and owner/breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Que. She paid $4.40 to win.

The time of the race, 1:54.3, now has Champagne Shower tied with both My Tallia Ideal (2015) and Sans Frontiere (2013) as the fastest older mares in Hippodrome 3R history.

Another “Champagne” horse, Champagne Phil, had little trouble posting his fifth straight victory, leading from start to finish in the third race division of the Quebec-Bred Series for horses and geldings in 1:54.1.

Also driven by St Pierre, Champagne Phil post his seventh win of the year for trainer Francis Richard and the ICR Racing Stable of Pefferlaw, Que. He paid just $2.30 to win.

Champagne Phil won by one and three-quarter lengths over McKinney (Stephane Brosseau) and Bali (Marie-Claude Auger).

St Pierre ended the day not only winning both divisions of the Quebec-Series, but made it a driving grand slam as he won the eighth race pace with his own sophomore filly Tilikum ($16.90) in 1:58 and the finale with five-year-old pacing mare Negligent Hanover ($7.60) in 1:57.4, marking the first training win for Lyne Binette.

This concludes the preliminary rounds of the Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old trotters and pacers. The top eight point-earners in each division will return next week for the $35,000 finals on Sunday, June 14.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday, post time at 7:00 p.m. The Hippodrome 3R is open seven days a week for simulcasting.

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

(With files from QJC)