With perfect fall weather in Quebec, Game Of Shadows was at her best in the $33,800 Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies, as she set a track record at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Oct. 4).
Driver Louis-Philippe Roy not only drove the winner of the feature race, but ended the day with five trips to the winner’s circle.
Leaving like a rocket from Post 4 in the seventh race, Game Of Shadows flew to the lead for driver and co-owner Louis-Philippe Roy, going to the opening quarter mile in :27.1. Platine Alpha (who was driven by Pascal Berube) was content sitting the two-hole trip.
Past the half mile marker in :56, both Game Of Shadows and Platine Alpha began to pull away from the field to the three quarters in 1:25. Then in the stretch Game Of Shadows pulled away from Platine Alpha and went on to win by four open lengths in 1:54, which was a new track record for her age, gait and gender. The previous track record was set last week by Celia Bayama (Sylvain Filion) in 1:55.3.
Sired by Shadow Play, Game Of Shadows is trained by Chantel Mitchell; and LPR co-owns the filly with 1876472 Ontario, Inc. She was sent off the overwhelming 1-9 favourite and paid $2.30 to win.
The Lucien Bombardier Pace is named after the pioneer of harness racing in not only Quebec, but all of Canada. Bombardier was a prominent owner, breeder, trainer and driver. He also served on the Board of Director of Standardbred Canada., who is a co-sponsor of this annual race.
Happy connections of Game Of Shadows in the winner's circle.
Game Of Shadows' clocking of 1:54 was two seconds faster than the Preferred Pace for the horses.
In the Preferred-Handicap Pace for the horses (Race 8), it was the pocket-sitting Mickeymaksomespeed ($6.00) and driver Steeven Genois who sat a pocket seat to pacesetter Farmers Tan (Carol Voyer) through fractions of :27.1 and :57.2. Then, before the three quarters in 1:26.4, Genois pulled the pocket with Mickeymaksomespeed and came after Farmers Tan. The duo raced neck and neck around the final turn until Mickeymaksomespeed worn him down in the stretch and went on to win by one length in 1:56 over Farmers Tan with Maracasso (Pascal Berube) third. The lone three-year-old in the field, Mickeymaksomespeed is sired by Mickey Hanover and was bred and is trained and owned by Michel Allard of Saint-Espirt.
Y C Easy ($46.70) upset the field in the Preferred Pace for fillies and mares (Race 5). Driven by Steeven Genois, Y C Easy got a perfect second-over trip as Acaena De Chakrika (Stephane Brosseau) battled with Hammering Haley (Louis-Philippe Roy) for control of the lead. Y C Easy came from off the pace to nip Hammering Haley at the wire by a head in 1:56.4.
Three-year-old Muscle Mass colt Frido PV ($2.90) was able to handle older trotters in Race 4, wiring the field for driver Stephane Brosseau in 1:59.2.
Track Notes: H3R’s leading trainer the past three seasons, Francis Richard, had a big day with three winners from his stable, all driven by 'LPR.' Live racing will resume next Friday (Oct. 9) with special post time of 1:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at H3R, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Hippodrome 3R)