Having to move up in class and being the only three-year-old filly in the field did not hinder Stella Alpha at all as she easily handled mostly older rivals in winning the Preferred 3 Trot on Sunday afternoon (May 15) at Hippodrome 3R.
The $4,500 third race co-feature saw Quebec-bred champion Hall Win (Kevin Maguire) scoot to the early lead over Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube) to the opening quarter in :28.3, but Berube wanted the front and pulled the pocket with Stella Alpha after the half-mile marker in :58.4 and was parked out until after the three-quarters in 1:29.1.
From that point, Stella Alpha controlled the pace with X O X O (Jerome Lombart) first-over and starting to gain on the leader, who had opened up a three lengths at the top of the stretch. That rival just urged Stella Alpha on as she won with ease down the stretch by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:00. X O X O was second with three-year-old gelding Royalty Beer (Samuel Fillion) coming on for third.
The win was the second in a row and third of the season from six starts for Stella Alpha. The filly by Royalty For Life is trained by Sylvain Tremblay and was bred and is owned by his Ecurie Alpha of Metabetchouan. The "Princess of Trot" at Hippodrome 3R paid $3.10 to win as part of the favoured entry.
Menlo Park ($6.90) took an instant liking to the H3R half-mile oval, wiring the field in the eighth race, $6,000 Preferred 1 & 2 Handicap Pace.
A recent purchase from Miami Valley Raceway in Ohio by co-owner and trainer Jean-Francois Reid of Anjou, Que., with Maurice Houle of Contrecoeur, Que., Menlo Park left from post five and never looked back for driver Stephane Brosseau.
Goldinthebadlands (Marie-Claude Auger) sat the two-hole trip as Menlo Park led to the quarter in :27.3, the half in :57.1 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1. Mickeymaksomespeed and driver Kiwon Waldron came first-over and tried to look Menlo Park in the eye but could not.
Menlo Park and Brosseau went on to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. Mickeymaksomespeed was second with Goldinthebadlands third.
A five-year-old gelding by Betterthancheddar, Goldinthebadlands notched his second win this year from seven starts. He paid $6.90 to win as the second choice in the race.
Track Notes: Stephane Brosseau led all drivers Sunday with a triple. Pascal Berube and Steeve Genois had a driving doubles. Trainers Jean-Francois Reid and Marc-Andre Simoneau each had a double. Live racing resumes at H3R next Sunday with first race post time at 12 noon.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)