In the final strides to the wire, Farmers Tan was able to catch and defeat Wrangler Cash to win the featured Preferred Pace at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Oct. 18).
In Race 6, Farmers Tan and owner/trainer/driver Carol Voyer of Lac-Kenogami left from Post 5 and took command of the front from Wrangler Cash and driver Pascal Berube by the opening quarter mile in :27.1. Berube quickly 'quarter moved' and put Wrangler Cash back on the lead.
Coming to the half mile, Jocelyn Gendron came first-over with Somewhere Bettor, and following their outside cover was Hooter Shooter and driver Stephane Gendron. The leaders went past the half mile in :57.2.
With Somewhere Bettor beginning to fade by the three-quarters marker in 1:22.3, Farmers Tan now had clearance to come after Wrangler Cash, and the duo set up for a classic stretch drive to the finish.
Wrangler Cash and Berube tried as hard as they could to hold off Farmers Tan in the stretch, and the outcome came down to the final moments of the race. It was there in late stretch where Farmers Tan and Carol Voyer surged ahead of Wrangler Cash to win by a head in 1:55.2. It was a dead heat for third place between Hooter Shooter and D J Power.
Farmers Tan, who is a four-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, recorded his sixth win of the season. He paid $5.70 to win.
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Farmers Tan (outside #5) pictured collaring Wrangler Cash at the wire.
Sieras Rose ($5.80) returned to winning form for driver Pascal Berube in winning the Preferred-Handicapped Pace for fillies and mares.
Unable to find a seat going to the opening quarter mile, Berube was content to sit first-over as Hammering Halley (who was driven by Stephane Gendron) cut the mile to the opening quarter mile in :28.2.
With Shemaksmefelunreal (Samuel Fillion) in the two-hole spot and Sieras Rose parked out, they went by the half mile marker in :58.1.
Then in the backstretch, Berube urged Sieras Rose on and she responded by taking the lead by the three-quarters pole in 1:27.2. Then came pressure on the outside by Wild River Swan (Franis Picard), who actually got a head up on the leader before fading.
Godiva Mackiavelyc (Carol Voyer) came three-wide from fifth place around the final turn and was nearly able to collar Sieras Rose as they started down the stretch, but Sieras Rose was the strong horse, going on to win by three quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Godiva Mackiavelyc was second with Hammering Haley third.
The victory was the third win this year for Sieras Rose, an eight-year-old mare by No Pan Intended. She is trained and co-owned by the former race secretary at H3R, Johanne Dechamplain with Steve Perrault, both of Mont-Joli.
Track Notes: Three drivers all scored 'doubles' on Sunday. They were Pascal Berube, Jocelyn Gendron and Francis Picard. Notching a training double was Alain Martin. Live racing will resume at H3R next Friday, first race post time will be at 1:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view the results for Sunday at H3R, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)