Cafe Society showed once again that she is the best of the pacing mares at Hippodrome 3R, grinding an impressive victory Sunday (Oct. 16) in one of the three co-feature races.
Fancy Girl and driver Francis Picard took early control of the sixth race with Whitemountaincammy grabbing the two-hole spot as they went by the first quarter in :28.3. Cafe Society and driver Pascal Berube were the first to come out after Fancy Girl with Y C Easy second over to the half in :58.2.
Fancy Girl was strong on the front as Cafe Society worked her way closer and closer on the outside passing the three-quarters in 1:27.3. Y C Easy had started to back off and race favourite Arrhysthmogenic was able to get off the pylons and move into second-over position.
By the top of the stretch, it became a two-horse race with Fancy Girl and Picard trying to keep their lead but Cafe Society and Berube were the strongest, coming on to win by a half length in 1:57.4. Fancy Girl was second with Whitemountaincammy third.
It was the second straight win and fourth victory on the year for Cafe Society. The six-year-old mare is trained by Sylvain Tremblay for owner Gaetan Fortin of Loretteville, Que. The daughter of Betterthancheddar paid $7.80 to win.
In the 11th race co-feature pace for the older horses, Spectrum Seelster and driver Pascal Berube went the overwhelming 1-9 favourite and they raced like it.
Taking the early lead off the gate, Spectrum Seelster gave way to Old Buck at the first quarter in :27.4 and then retook the lead right away. As they came to the half mile in :58.2, Maracasso came first over with Saskabush Steve getting the second-over trip. Spectrum Seelster led the field to the three-quarters in 1:27.4 and still held the field at bay by two lengths and kept that margin down the stretch and to the wire in 1:58.1. Xternal was second with Old Buck third.
Spectrum Seelster notched his seventh win of the season for trainer Charles Gaudreault. He co-owns the horse with Daniel Gaudreault and Maxim Gaudreault. The six-year-old gelded son of Mach Three paid just $2.10 to win.
Morally Flexible and driver Stephane Brosseau wasted no time in grinding early and then leading the field from start to finish in the fourth-race feature trot.
Taking the lead away from Tuxedo by the first quarter in :28.3, Brosseau backed the tempo with Morally Flexible to the half in :59.1. That drew Dart Guy first over and Goaltender second over. Morally Flexible held the field at bay through the three-quarters in 1:28.4 and then was able to outsprint Goaltender to the wire, winning by a half length in 1:59. Royalty Beer was third.
It was the second straight win and fourth of the year for Morally Flexible, who is owned and trained by Daniel Theroux of St-Thomas-De-Jolliette, Que. The six-year-old gelded son of Break The Bank K paid $4.40 to win as the wagering favourite.
Track Notes: Both Francis Picard and Pascal Berube scored driving triples and Stephane Brosseau had a driving double Sunday. Live racing resumes next Sunday (Oct. 23) with first-race post time at 12 p.m. (EDT).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)