Prince Of Sussex's opponents tried various tactics but could not take catch the front-striding favourite in the featured $7,000 Preferred Handicap Trot at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25.
Leaving from post five, driver Francis Picard put the favoured Prince Of Sussex on the front ahead of inside starter Rose Run Why Not (Marie-Claude Auger) into the first turn and set soft opening half-mile fractions of :29 and 1:00 until company came to challenge. Yes (Pascal Berube) moved from fourth at the midway mark to get the jump on the advancing trailer, Paradise Moni (Kevin Maguire), and that pair put the pressure on Prince Of Sussex as they approached three-quarters in 1:30.3. But the first-up Yes lost his forward momentum as they turned for home and Paradise Moni broke stride after rallying three-wide by that foe. Prince of Sussex kicked clear in the stretch and then held off the pocket-popping Rose Run Why Not by a dwindling length in 2:00.1 while Royalty B N (Sylvain Fontaine) closed inside for third.
After giving way late to finish second in a Preferred photo finish two weeks ago, Prince Of Sussex was sent postward as the bettors' choice and delivered a $4.30 win payout to his backers.
Serge Houde trains the seven-year-old Creatine-Pana Coloda gelding, who is now five-for-15 this year, for owner Marc Lemay of Lac-Beauport, Que. A career winner of 37 races lifetime, Prince Of Sussex sits on the verge of the $300,000 earnings mark.
A new Trois Rivieres, Que. trainer made a successful debut during Sunday afternoon's program as Jacob Normand watched his 10-year-old claiming pacer Skylar win the $3,500 ninth race in 1:59.4 by 2-3/4 lengths.
Despite trailing the field of nine through the first half-mile, 3R leading driver Pascal Berube got the favoured class-dropping Normand trainee home first with a wide sweeping move in the final bend to defeat pacesetter Arts Arsenal (Marie-Claude Auger) and pocket-pursuer Haka Timatanga (William Roy). He paid $5 to win as the 3-2 favourite.
Normand, who turned 19 years old earlier this month, also has three driving wins on the Quebec fair circuit from 11 starts in his rookie season.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Standardbred Canada)