For the second straight week and fourth time in his last five starts, Maximuscle broke at the start of a race as the wagering favourite. This time, it was in the co-featured trot at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday and rival Caroluzzo was there to take advantage of his miscue.

In the third race, driver Mario Charron was unable to keep Maximuscle on stride at the start as Beer Maggs (Kevin Maguire) shot to the early lead from post seven. His lead was short-lived as Caroluzzo and driver Stephane Gendron took aim at the top spot and took command at the opening quarter-mile in a quick :28.2.

Caroluzzo then led to the half-mile marker in :58.4 as Vival Angus (Gaetan Lamy) came first-over and Maximuscle, who also broke stride again on the second turn, had regrouped at the half-mile and was back in the hunt.

Going down the backstretch, Gendron and Caroluzzo were able to back down the pace a little to the three-quarters in 1:31.1, but that then enabled Vival Angus to stay in contention and Maximuscle, still three-wide, was gaining ground on the leaders.

In the stretch, Caroluzzo put away the field in winning by two and one-half lengths in 2:01. Beer Maggs was second and Maximuscle, who made a valiant comeback, was third.

The win was the sixth this year for Caroluzzo. The six-year-old stallion by Musclesextrodinair is trained by Daniel Martin and was bred and is owned by Michael Cote Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que. He paid $7.60 to win.

In the first race co-featured trot, Aworthy Bi and driver Gaetan Lamy, made a bold three-wide move from sixth-place in the backstretch, sweeping the field to collar pacesetter Kim Sorel (Martin Gingras) by the top of the stretch.

With the pocket-sitting SOS Striking Monte (Pascal Berube) going to the passing lane, they looked to be the winners of the race, but with every stride down the stretch, Aworthy Bi kept gaining ground and nipped SOS Striking Monte at the wire by a neck in 2:01. Kim Sorel was third.

Trained and owned by Elisabeth Carrier of St-Jean-Chrysostome, Que., the five-year-old gelded son of Equinox Bi earned his fourth win this year. He paid $6.60 to win.

In addition to winning the co-feature trot, driver Stephane Gendron had the hot hands Sunday with a driving triple.

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

(With files from QJC)