Offspring of stallion Shanghai Phil swept the $15,000 finals of the Les Quebecoises Series for older Quebec-bred pacers Saturday at Hippodrome de Quebec
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Five-year-old Petite Courageuse got the job done in the event for pacing mares, powering past pacesetter Godiva Beachgirl and Kevin Maguire in the stretch for a length and a half victory in 2:00.2 for driver-trainer Marcel Barrieau. Lady Luna and Sylvain Lacaille finished third.
Petite Courageuse, winner of a Quebec final last year, was the 4-5 favourite and improved her record at Hippodrome de Quebec to five wins and three seconds in eight starts over the past two years. The win pushed her career earnings past $100,000 for Hudson Standardbreds of Hudson, Que.
In the final for male pacers, favourites Whitemountainpower and D Gs Woodstock duelled each other into submission through a half in :57.2, setting it up for 3-1 third choice China Grill. The four-year-old gelding, owned and bred by Litwin Racing Team of Westmount, Que., moved to prominence on the final turn under a patient drive by Sylvain Lacaille, assumed command and then held safe Shanghai Tiger and Simon Allard by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.1. Ghostbuster and Denis Audet came in third. Favourite D Gs Woodstock and Mario Charron faded to fourth after an outside trip and Whitemountainpower, driven by Stephane Brosseau, wound up sixth.
The Andre Lachance trainee, who was runner-up in two preliminary legs of the series, now has four wins and has yet to miss the board in eight Quebec starts.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hippodrome Quebec.
(With files from Paul Delean)