The Quebec Jockey Club will host two $51,000 divisions of the second annual Brian Paquet Memorial at the Hippodrome 3R (3R) on Sunday, Oct. 6 and it is anyone’s guess as to who will win either of the Invitational pacing events.
The two divisions are named after longtime Quebec horse owner, breeder and pioneer of Standardbred racing in Canada, Brian Paquet.
Also on the Sunday card are two $15,100 divisions of the Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies that is co-sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club.
It’s also Builder’s Day on Sunday at 3R. In addition to honouring both Paquet and Bombardier, the track will also recognize Marcel Lacaille, Jean-Claude Martineau and Léo Tourigny, all of whom have been instrumental is helping promote the industry in Quebec.
The first division of the Paquet for older horses is slated for Race 10. Cadillac Bayama, who won the inaugural Brian Paquet Memorial last year and is a former Quebec-Bred Champion, goes from the far outside in post eight for driver Robert Shepherd. In his last start at Yonkers Raceway, he was second while timed in 1:52.1h.
Although winless in his eight starts, Jack Panic (post seven) is the morning line favourite for driver Marie-Claude Auger. The Woodbine Mohawk Park invader was second two starts back, timed in 1:49.
Fortify (post five; pictured above) is another major contender and will be driven by Louis-Philippe Roy. Roy captured all three of the major stakes races last year on this day. Fortify has won three of his last five starts, the fastest a lifetime mark of 1:49.1 two starts back.
Other contenders include Uncontrollable (post four), who jumps up in class off two straight wins at 3R, the fastest a 1:53.4 triumph, The Light Speed (post two) comes into the race off a 1:53 triumph at Rideau Carleton, his 12th win of the season and another local favourite, Light The Torch (post one) was second to rival The Light Speed last week by a head in that 1:53 mile.
The older mares do battle in the next race, another $51,000 Brian Paquet Memorial. YS Sensationalcity, who was second last year in the inaugural Paquet Memorial, heads the field from post six and sports five wins this year. She will be driven by William Roy.
Her main rivals will be Jimbelina (post three), Kiss Me Bad (post four) and Annas Wish (post five).
The Lucien Bombardier two $15,100 divisions are races four and six. Featured is Ontario newcomer Jenny Longlegs (post three) in the sixth race for trainer-driver Guy Gagnon taking on Simply The Best (post four), who has won her last two starts and Ibetyouakiss (post five), who has been second in photos the last two starts at Rideau Carleton — the fastest timed in 1:57 — and recent Quebec-Bred Champion Mirabel Enfete (post 1).
The first division in the fourth is headed by Silver Majesty (post one), who has been second or first in her last six starts. She takes on Mystic Moment (post three) who has won two of her last three starts and the good filly Justine Ray (post two).
On Saturday afternoon, 3R hosted the finals of the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit.
The feature race was the sixth, an Open Handicap Pace that saw Sports Bettor (Sportswriter) and driver Kevin Maguire take the early lead away from N C Rockabye (Marc Lemay) by the opening quarter in :28.2. Sports Bettor led the field to the half mile in :58.4 as race favourite Frozen Hanover (Marie-Soleil Dubois), coming first-over from the start, battled with Sports Bettor through the three-quarters in 1:28.2.
Around the final turn and down the stretch, Sports Bettor dug in and was able to hold off Frozen Hanover to win by a neck in 1:58.2. Mach N Blue Cheez (Jackson Barrette) was third after a bold, three-wide move in the backstretch.
It was the fourth win this season for Sports Bettor. The 12-year-old gelding is trained by Mario Grimard, who co-owns the horse with the Ecuries Maguire Stable. He paid $6.90 to win.
Track News: Trainer-driver Dany Mainguy celebrated his 57th birthday in grand style Saturday, driving Woodmere Macerena to a 2:00.2 victory in the fifth race, and paid $6.20 to win as the betting favourite. Post time Sunday is at 12:00 noon. For entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)