Grabbing the lead early, EAU Naturelle yielded for the pocket and popped into contention late to take the Preferred Trot at Hippodrome 3R on closing day Sunday, Nov. 25 in 2:08.1.
EAU Naturelle cleared control early before Dance Hall George crept alongside, taking over command after the half. Dance Hall George set the tempo to three-quarters as EAU Naturelle mounted a bid heading into the final turn. The two matched strides rounding the final turn until EAU Naturelle slid past forfeiting Dance Hall George in the lane. Capteur De Reve finished third.
Trained and driven by Simon Delisle, it was the seventh win this year for EAU Naturelle. The five-year-old mare by Windsong Espoir is owned by Chantal Auger, Raymond Bouffard, Rejean Page and Anne Delisle. She paid $12.30 to win.
Driver Pierre Luc Roy, older brother to Canada's leading driver Louis-Philippe Roy, bested his kin in the Preferred Pace on closing day Sunday, Nov. 25 at Hippodrome 3R when steering D J Power to a 9-1 victory.
D J Power was first on the lead after the starting gate pulled away. Driver Francis Picard left from the outside with Rainbow Palace to grab the two-hole spot with Hooter Shooter, driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, getting away in third place.
After they went the opening quarter mile in :30.4, Louis-Philippe Roy came first over with Hooter Scooter and looked to take the lead but brother Pierre Luc Roy parked out his brother to the half mile in 1:01.4.
Through the backstretch Hooter Scooter stayed to the outside past the three-quarters in 1:32.1 while D J Power did not give an inch.
On the final turn it looked as if Hooter Scooter had had enough, but failed to overtake D J Power in the stretch as he won by one length in 2:02.2. Hooter Scooter was second with Rainbow Palace third.
It was the tenth win of the season for D J Power, a seven-year-old gelding by Major In Art. He is owned and trained by Jean Marc Roy of Mont-Joli and paid $21.90 to win.
For the second-straight year, Stephane Brosseau captured the leading driver's title with 50 wins. Pascal Berube was second with 45 wins.
Also winning the training title for the second-straight year is Francis Richard. He also led early on this season and finished out the race season with 27 winners from his stable. His nearest rival was Maxime Velaye with 17 wins.
There was a special winner’s circle retirement ceremony for the 14-year-old pacer Windham Hanover. The son of Mach Three had a record of 1:54 and career earnings of $254,019. All Standardbred race horses must retire from racing when they turn age 15.
Track notes: Closing day was also the second day of “whipless” racing. Both Francis Richard and Nathalie Migneault had training doubles. The Hippodrome 3R and its Off-Track-Betting parlors throughout Quebec will be open seven days a week featuring simulcasting of the best in harness and thoroughbred racing.
(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.