Did defending leading driver Pascal Berube and trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau win Hippodrome 3R's Opening Day feature? Yes is the correct answer.
When his main challenger blew the final turn, the veteran trotter named Yes strode confidently to the wire to win the $7,000 Preferred Handicap Trot as harness racing returned to the Trois-Rivières, Que. half-mile oval on Sunday, May 10.
Yes left from the outside post and gained early control in the first turn for Berube as he worked past Greenleaf and Steven Gagnon for the leading role. The Simoneau trainee led the field of nine top trotters through a quarter in :30 and completed the first lap in 1:01 with the heavily favoured Kenogami Coco and Denis St. Pierre caught behind stalling cover and unable to make an impact. Cleveland Massimo did, briefly however, launching from third and was quickly alongside Yes as they passed three-quarters in 1:31.3. Cleveland Massimo pressed forward for William Roy but broke stride while trying to clear around the bend leaving Yes to fend off the inside attack from Greenleaf, who finished a half-length behind the 2:02.4 winner. Yes paid $11.40 to win as the 9-2 second choice. Royalty B N, driven by Sylvain Fontaine, came through between horses and just missed second in a photo finish.
Yes made his provincial debut a winning one after being claimed for $15,000 at Western Fair Raceway on London, Ont. in late December by Simoneau and partners Desjardins Noreau Stable of Quebec City and Jean Fontaine of Trois-Rivières. The trotter notched his second win in six seasonal starts for his new connections, bringing his earnings just under $10,000.
Lifetime, the 10-year-old Manofmanymissions-Fantasy Yankee gelding has won 42 races and $636,216 from 199 starts.
Yes was Simoneau's first starter of the year following a career-best season for the local trainer in 2025 when his stable won 65 races, including 37 at Hippodrome 3R to defend his training title, and $341,228 in purses.
Berube, who has won six straight driving titles, started the new season at 3R back atop the leaderboard with five wins from the carded 12 races. He also won with trotter Mystic for trainer Yannick Martel, pacing mare The Heart Valley for Carl Duguay, sophomore pacing colt Wicker Buddy Buck for Mario Patry and veteran pacer Sports Bettor for Kevin Maguire.
In other action, Franck Chosson, 55, of Vercheres, Que. celebrated his first career training victory with his first stable starter when Summer Lovin won the $3,750 second race, a conditioned claiming pace, after progressing to the lead off cover in the final turn when the front-striding favourite made a miscue. Driver Stephane Brosseau guided the six-year-old mare home first in 2:00.3 and the 5-2 second choice paid $7.80 to win.
Chosson recently purchased the Source Of Pride-Majortempertantrum mare that also gave him a winning driving debut last June in an amateur drivers race at 3R when she was trained by Simoneau. Chosson, who drove a dozen times in 2025, went on to earn his three other driving wins with Summer Lovin.
Sunday's eighth race was declared a No Contest after an accident occurred in the first quarter when the leaving Kingston Panic, driven by Loic Guériel, broke stride while racing two-wide into the turn and made contact with Wall Street Bell and Pierre Desjardins to their outside, resulting in both drivers being unseated. Both horses ran loose before being corralled on track and were reported to be okay.
According to reports from Hippodrome 3R officials, Guériel was transported to hospital for further evaluation. Desjardins returned to the paddock on foot afterward to be examined and appeared to be okay. Additional updates on the drivers will be provided when available.
Live harness racing will continue on Sundays in May. Hippodrome 3R will host a 40 race days through Nov. 1.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Standardbred Canada)