Trainer Philippe Belanger kicked off the Saturday night harness racing card at Sudbury Downs with a natural hat trick
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Dominating the first third of the program, Belanger sent out winners Mellow Kenny ($7.10), Victors Valiant ($11.60) and Ew Royal Pain ($5.30).
For four-year-old pacing mare Mellow Kenny, owned and bred by Belanger and Talbot Trail Racing Stables of Windsor, the 1:57.1 score was her third straight and a career-best. Mario Rivest was the sulky-sitter. Five-year-old trotter Victors Valiant was driven to a season's-best 1:58.3 victory by Gerry Belanger for Windsor's Robert Deschaine. After winning her only start for Belanger and Deschaine in 1:59.1 by seven and a half lengths, nine-year-old trotting mare E Royal Pain will move back into France MacLean's care off the claim.
The resident of Azilda, Ont. has sent out eight winners from 31 starts so far in 2012 for a training average of 0.401. Lifetime, he has won 930 times while banking over $4 million in purses.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Sudbury Downs.