It did not take very long for driver Louis-Philippe Roy to make his presence known at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (May 23). The three-time O’Brien Award winning driver started right off on a positive note in winning the very first race on his way to a five-win afternoon.
Under urging from trainer Carl Duguay to come and drive at Hippodrome 3R in preparation for racing to resume in Ontario, Roy rewarded Duguay, winning the opener with Independence Time from post 8.
Despite being parked first-over from the half-mile marker, Independence Time was up to the task for Roy, winning by a half length in 1:57 and paying $22.20 to win.
Roy was not done yet with Duguay’s horses. In the Preferred 2-3 Trot, carded as race five, Roy sent Duguay trainee Eau Naturelle out of the gate from post seven, was parked three-wide around the first turn, but finally reached the lead past the opening quarter mile in :28.3. From there, Eau Naturelle led the rest of the race, winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.2 and paying $8.30 to win.
The story continued with Roy and Duguay in the Preferred 2-3 Pace (race seven), where Y C Easy advanced first-over at the half, cleared to the lead and went on to romp by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4. The 8-5 favourite paid $5.20 to win.
One of the races that Roy did not win was the Preferred Trot (race eight).
Two-time winner Severus Hanover (Stephane Brosseau) shot out of the gate from post five and jumped right on the early lead with Seeyou Men (Guy Gagnon) also leaving and grabbing the two-hole to the first quarter in :28.3.
As the field came to the half in :58.4, Franks Angel (Marie Claude Auger) came first-over, giving favourite Profound Paragon (Jean Bernard Renaud), an invader from Ontario, second-over cover.
On the backstretch, Renaud took Profound Paragon three-wide, looping Franks Angel to duel with Severus Hanover at the three-quarters in 1:29.1. Coming down the stretch, Profound Paragon collared Severus Hanover and put him away before going on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Severus Hanover was second with Seeyou Men third.
It was the first win in two starts this year for Profound Paragon, a four-year-old mare by Muscle Mass trained by Francis Richard for owners Julie Walker and Steven Titus. She paid $5.00 to win.
Roy was not done winning races at Hippodrome 3R. He scored his fourth triumph of the day in the ninth race with Free Proof ($3.80) in 1:59.
The Preferred 1-2 Pace (race 10) saw Veneno (Stephane Brosseau) trade the early lead with Maracasso (Stephane Gendron) and then Sports Authority (Tyler Jones) before taking the lead for good. He went on to win with ease by two lengths in 1:56.1.
Another Ontario invader, Veneno is a seven-year-old gelded son of Real Artist trained by Brosseau for owners Jean-Francois Reid and Maurice Howle. He paid $13.40 to win.
Carl Duguay led all trainers with three wins.
Due to having so many horses qualified to race at Hippodrome 3R, the Québec Jockey Club will start racing on Fridays beginning next week (May 28). The Friday program will get underway at 4 p.m. in addition to the Sunday afternoon program at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)