Not even in the hunt at the half mile, 7-1 shot Windsun Cheyenne and driver Marie-Claude Auger were able to find live cover and upset the field at Hippodrome 3R in the Preferred Pace on Sunday (May 16).
The eighth race feature saw an early dogfight for control of the lead by Sports Authority (Tyler Jones), Too Much Duncan (Jocelyn Gendron) and the 9-5 face favourite Maracasso (Stephane Gendron).
Sports Authority had inside control and parked out Too Much Duncan around the first turn with Maracasso joining the fray second-over.
By the first quarter in :27.1, Too Much Duncan took control from Sports Authority but then had to give up the lead to a determined Maracasso.
Past the half mile marker in :56.4, Tyler Jones sent Sports Authority back after Maracasso, giving Littlebitaswagger (Stephane Brosseau) second-over cover. Auger then got into the outside flow third-over with Windsun Cheyenne.
Passing the three-quarters in 1:26.3, Maracasso held control of the lead, Sports Authority was able to drop in the pocket as Too Much Duncan was fading. That left Littlebitaswagger collaring Maracasso around the final turn and tipping three-wide with pace was Windsun Cheyenne and Marie-Claude Auger.
Coming down the stretch Littlebitaswagger started to take the lead away from Marcasso, but it was Windsun Cheyenne digging in and winning by a head over Littlebitaswagger with Maracasso third. The time of the mile race was 1:57.1.
It was the second win in five starts this year for Windsun Cheyenne. The 11-year-old gelding by Cams Card Shark is owned and trained by Gina Bragagnolo of Lavaltrie. He paid $16.20 to win.
With a drop in class from the top Preferred Trot to the Preferred 3 Trot, Captain Krupnik and driver Jimmy Gagnon took full advantage in winning the sixth race co-feature trot.
Leaving from post two, Gagnon sent Captain Krupnik, purchased recently by trainer Michel Lagace of Terrebonne, right to the lead with Club Belvedere (Marie Claude Auger) sitting the pocket-seat in second place.
Captain Krupnik led to the opening quarter mile in :28.4 and to the half mile in :59.2 before Eau Naturelle (Stephane Brosseau) started up first-over to challenge.
Eau Naturelle slowly worked her way up to the leader and looked them in the eye at the three-quarters in 1:29.3. But the final turn took its toll on Eau Naturelle as Captain Krupnik was too tough, pulling away in the stretch and winning by one and one-half lengths in 2:00. Eau Naturelle held for second place with Fierce Magic (Simon Delisle) third.
A five-year-old gelding by Conway Hall, Captain Krupnik notched his first win of the season and paid $3.20 to win as the betting favourite.
Track Notes: Guy Gagnon was the only one to score a driving double on the day. Harness racing resumes at Hippodrome 3R next Sunday, May 23 at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view the results from the Sunday card at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippdrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)