Preferred winner Bets Beach, who is undefeated this year, and Quebec stakes champion Bernard, who his undefeated in his career, continued their winning ways at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday afternoon, May 31.
Despite being handicapped with the outside post while stepping up into the $7,000 Preferred class, Bets Beach made front early on and dominated his rivals, improving to three-for-three this season for trainer/co-owner Yves Tessier.
Driver Pascal Berube got the six-year-old All Bets Off-Blue Beach Girl gelding to the top after landing in the pocket off the gate then looping first leader Tignanello (Michel Lagace) at the quarter in :29.2. After clearing to command, there was no touching the 4-5 favourite, who glided through middle panels of :57.4 and 1:26.4 on his way to a 2-1/4-length victory in 1:57.2 over the "good" track conditions. Trailing tier starter Pyrenees Hanover (Marie-Claude Auger) advanced first-over to take second-place honours from Tignanello.
Off to a perfect start this year, Bets Beach has now won 16 of his 49 career starts and $71,782 in purses. Tessier shares ownership with Gina Bragagnolo of Trois-Rivieres, Que., and Jean Allaire of Montreal, Que.
Bernard, who completed his perfect freshman campaign with a sweep of the Coupe de L'Avenir, won his sophomore debut in 1:58.1 for the tandem of driver William Roy and trainer Guy Roy.
Sent postward as the 1-9 bettors' choice from post five in a $4,250 conditioned optional claiming pace, the Sportswriter-Armand Spice gelding led at every pole, clearing to command at the quarter in :29, rating the half in :59.1 and passing three-quarters in 1:28.4 with company coming. He remained in full control and paced away from his older foes into the stretch to win by more than three lengths in 1:58.1. Hound On The Beach (Pascal Berube) closed off the cover of Lets Get Pickled (Stephane Brosseau) to finished second.
Bernard's seventh career win pushed his earnings to $44,969 for owners Sabrina Pelletier of Sorel-Tracy, Que., and Yvon Genereux of La Bostonais, Que.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Bets Beach winning on May 31)