When a racehorse wins for the first time in its career it is called its maiden victory. Usually maiden victories do not come in the opening round of a $250,000 series, but that was not the case at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday.

Two of the three opening round divisions of the $250,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers were captured by maiden horses.

Starting in the third race, first division for three-year-old pacing fillies, HP Rubis Joyce, winless in 12 prior starts, was given a perfect drive by Louis Philippe Roy, and the daughter of Perfect Union responded with a two and one-half length triumph in 1:59.

It was the race favourites, Kinnder Elegance and driver Justin Filion, who left hard from post six and led the field through fast fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:27.4, but sitting on their back patiently were HP Rubis Joyce and Roy, who waited until the top of the stretch to make their move. Then with a burst of speed, HP Rubis Joyce collared Kinnder Elegance coming down the stretch and then pulled away for her first victory. Kinnder Elegance was second with No Panic and Gaetan Lamy third.

Trained and owned by Nathalie Migneault with Eric Dechamplain of Saint-Donat, Que., HP Rubis Joyce paid $10.80 to win.

Then in the fifth race division for three-year-old pacing colts, SOS Justified, in just his second lifetime start having never raced at age two, posted a very impressive 1:56 triumph for driver Mario Charron.

It was HP Rayan Art Jules and Francis Picard who took advantage of starting from the rail to take the early lead. Then at the opening quarter mile in :28.3, race favourites Killer Thriller and driver Sylvain Lacaille came first-over and looked to take the lead away but went off-stride. It was then that Charron came first-over with SOS Justified and they took command before the half-mile marker in :58.1 and then picked up the pace. Killer Thriller had regrouped and came first-over once again but to no avail as SOS Justified led to the three-quarters in 1:26.4. Coming down the stretch, SOS Justified and Charron were in command, winning by one and one-half lengths over HP Rayan Art Jules with Killer Thriller, despite making the break, was third.

Trained by Jean Tourigny and owned by Leo Tourigny of Becancour, Que. and Michel Damphousse of Louiseville, Que., SOS Justified paid $11.70 to win.

It was a “walk in the park” in the sixth race, second division for fillies as the overwhelming 1-5 wagering favourite, Voodoo Charm and Charron had little trouble leading from start to finish.

Charron and Voodoo Charm left from post six and held the field at bay through fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:28.4, going on in the stretch to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:58.2. Miss Bro and Stephane Brossea were second with Big Bertha and Pascal Berube third.

The win was the second in three starts this year for Voodoo Charm. The Ponder daughter is trained by Maxime Velaye for Quebec owners Yvan Mondoux, Guy Corbeil, Alexandre Morin and Francois Laverdiere of QC. She paid $2.40 to win.

There are four weeks of preliminary rounds of the Quebec-Bred Series in July, with the top eight point-earners returning on Sunday, September 6 for the $65,000 finals in each division.

Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Wednesday with first race post time at 7:00 p.m.

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

(With files from QJC)