Two-year-old pacers and trotters were served up at the Hippodrome de Montreal on Sunday afternoon, with a total of five Distinctions going postward.
Two $18,000 Quebec Circuit Distinctions for trotting fillies got the party started.
Majestic Fortune recorded the first victory of her career for trainer/driver Bernard Perreault in the first race. The daughter of Fortuna Ice – SOS Imperialcrown remained on the outside past a :30.2 first quarter before driving to the front for Perrault. Once in command, Majestic Fortune tripped the markers in 1:01.2 and 1:32 en route to a seven-length romp in 2:03.4.
Helena Dery (Denis Filion) was second best while third went to Melody Mistique (Mario Charron).
Marleine Perreault owns Majestic Fortune, who came into the contest winless in nine attempts. With the victory, she now boasts earnings of $11,316.
In Race 4, driver Jacques Hebert rallied Bel D Erable to an off-the-pace decision. Sitting on the rail through a half in :30.4 and 1:01.3, the Dustin Jones-trained filly joined the outside flow, sitting third-over from fifth at the 1:33 three-quarters, and she trotted home the best of all to post an open-length triumph in 2:05.
C L Promise (Mario Lachance) raced first-over and hung on to second while SOS Dispatch (Richard Veilleux) completed the top three.
Bel D Erable is owned by the Dustin Jones Stable Inc. The A Js Tycoon – Fashion Finder filly is 2-1-1 in eight tries, banking $32,334.
A $15,000 Quebec Series Plus Distinction was the next feature in Race 6, showcasing pacing fillies.
Dreamgril was parked every step of the mile for driver Stephane Brosseau, but that was not enough to slow down the Colin Johnson-trained lass, who posted her second straight win. The Electric Stena – Going In Circles filly made a steady gain on the outside, as Allamerican Slide (Marcel Barrieau) set most of the tempo in :28.1, :58.1 and 1:28. Dreamgril tipped off cover down the lane and closed in :29.2 to win by three quarters of a length in a career best 1:58.4.
Allamerican Slide slid to second and Quinella Bayama (Yves Filion) rounded out the trifecta.
Furious Farms and Ecurie JGV Enrg co-own Dreamgril, who is now 2-0-1 in six starts, collecting purses of $16,428.
The $18,000 Quebec Circuit Distinction for trotting colts was the seventh race.
Mini Mel was an impressive first-over winner for driver Gilles Dion. With Post 4, Dion slipped Mini Mel into fourth as Filou Ray (Simon Boucher) made the lead in :29. The Promising Catch – SOS Malabar Woman colt began the outside flow and crept in closer on the leader through panels of 1:00 and 1:31.1. Mini Mel swept to the lead at the top of the stretch and never looked back, winning by four and a half lengths in a lifetime best 2:02.1.
Mustang Mirabel (Rosaire Renaud) finished second. Quiero Bayama (Yves Filion), who was unofficially third, was placed back to seventh for causing interference. That decision moved Filou Ray up to third.
Melanie Diotte trains and owns Mini Mel, who is 2-2-4 in 13 starts as a freshman. During his two-year-old campaign, the colt has earnings of $30,110.
An $18,000 Quebec Circuit Distinction for pacing colts finished the eight-race program.
With Stephane Brosseau at the reins, Le Roi Lion clawed his way to the winner’s circle. A son of Surf Party – Athens By Night, he was eighth in a field of nine at the :28.2 quarter before jumping into the outside flow. Le Roi Lion advanced through stanzas of :58.1 and 1:28, sitting fourth and less than two lengths from the front at the head of the lane. The Luc Blais-trained colt roared home and recorded a three-quarter length victory in a career mark 1:58.3.
Flash Bern (Denis Filion) finished in the place spot after racing first-over and Big Joe Nico (Rheo Filion) rounded out the top three.
Blais, who also bred Le Roi Lion, co-owns the colt with Robert Proulx. The youngster has made 12 starts, winning three of those and banking $29,075.
To view Montreal’s results, click here.