Chaleurs Fantasy was a repeat winner in the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old pacers at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (May 29) while Electric Western defeated first leg victor Atomic Million AM in their division.
In the sixth race, $6,500 mares division of the Quebec-Bred Series, Chaleurs Fantasy defeated the favoured Wanda Bayama, despite a change in her racing strategy, for the second straight week.
Yves Filion, after getting parked first-over for the mile last week, took no chances and left from post seven with Wanda Bayama, taking the lead away from Kinnder Elegance (Justin Filion) before the opening quarter-mile in :28.4.
Once in control of the pace, Yves Filion was able to back off Wanda Bayama, who was the overwhelming 1-5 betting favourite, to a :30 quarter as they breezed by the half-mile in :58.4, and that was when trainer/driver Carl Duguay started to advance on the outside with Chaleurs Fantasy.
Down the backstretch, Chaleurs Fantasy and Duguay came after the race leaders, collaring them by the three-quarters in 1:28.4. By the top of the stretch, Chaleurs Fantasy had cleared to the lead and then blew the field away down the lane, winning with ease by three open lengths in 1:58. Wanda Bayama held for second with Miss Bro (Pascal Berube) third.
Unbeaten in two starts this year, Chaleurs Fantasy is a five-year-old mare by Omar Khayam, owned and bred by Elevage Baie Des Chaleurs of Port-Daniel, Que. She paid $9.90 to win as the 7-2 second wagering choice.
Three races later in the horse and gelding division of the Quebec-Bred Series, “The Black Cat,” driver Richard Simard, and Ontario invader Electric Western stole the show with a mild 8-1 upset victory.
Race favourite Atomic Million AM and driver Sylvain Lacaille left sharply from post five and led the field with Electric Western sitting right on their back through fractions of :27.3 and :57.2.
Sugarsam, last year's three-year-old series champion, was first to advance for driver Denis St-Pierre, forcing Atomic Million AM to the three-quarters in 1:26 and nearly grabbing the lead before the final turn.
Atomic Million AM and Sugarsam went neck and neck until the stretch drive when Simard took Electric Western to the passing lane and just got up in the final strides to win by a quarter of a length in 1:55. Atomic Million AM held for second with Sugarsam third.
The win was the first in eight starts for Electric Western. The five-year-old gelded son of Electric Stena is trained and co-owned by Rene Dion with Susanne Kerwood of Rockwood, Ont. Electric Western paid $18.30 to win.
On Tuesday night at 3R, the older trotters will be in action in the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-olds. Post time is 7 p.m.
Next Sunday, June 5, 3R will host its All-Star Drivers Challenge featuring many of the top drivers in the world coming to Trois-Rivieres: Hall of Famer John Campbell, Tim Tetrick, Yannick Gingras, Daniel Dube, Jody Jamieson, Sylvain Filion and 3R leading drivers from 2015, Denis St-Pierre and Mario Charron. They will all compete in eight tournament races for $10,000 in prize money. All of the drivers will be at a meet and greet with race fans starting at 12:30 p.m. in the clubhouse area.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)