The opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older trotters took place at Hippodrome 3R on Friday, June 16 with 18-1 longshot Orlys Pride surprising the field and the fans in the first division.
The Quebec-Bred Series is for trotters fours year old and up. There are three preliminary rounds of competition followed by $30,000 finals. Each preliminary round races for a purse of $6,500.
In the fourth race, first division of the series, Orlys Pride and driver Jocelyn Gendron took no chances at the start and went right to the lead from post four as both La Bromontoise (Jerome Lombart) and Royalty Beer (Kevin Maguire) had made breaks at the start of the race from their inside positions.
Easily getting the lead, Orlys Pride trotted to the first quarter in :29 with Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube) taking the two-hole. The field raced single-file to the half-mile in :59.2, where the race favourite, Only For Justice (Robert Shepherd), went first-over and flushed out Stella Alpha as they thought they could pass Orlys Pride, but that was not happening.
Passing the three-quarters in 1:29.1, Shepherd swung Only For Justice three-wide around the final turn. Starting down the stretch, they were three-across the track, but Orlys Pride proved to be too strong on top, going on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59.2 over Only For Justice with Stella Alpha third.
It was the second start and first win of the 2023 season for Orlys Pride. The seven-year-old Archangel gelding is trained by Paulo Jutras for the Orlando Stables Inc. of Lasalle, Que. Orlys Pride returned a generous $38 to win.
In the eighth race, second division, former Quebec champion Seeyou Men (Guy Gagnon) battle neck and neck with race favourite Frido PV and Jonathan Lachance for the last quarter-mile right to the finish line.
Seeyou Men, the oldest competitor in the series at age 11, left from post six and easily made the lead before the opening quarter in :28.3. Capteur De Reve (Stephane Brosseau) secured the two-hole trip.
As they passed in front of the grandstand the first time, Seeyou Men was in command with Frido PV starting up first-over from third and X O X O (Robert Shepherd) following second-over after the half-mile in :59.1.
Heading down the backstretch, Frido PV continued to gain on Seeyou Men, collaring the pacesetter at the three-quarters in 1:28.2. Those two then raced eye to eye around the final turn and down the stretch with Seeyou Men looking for the upset but Frido PV proved he’s the best, surging to the lead at the wire to win by a head in 1:58.2. Lune Duharas (Loic Gueriel) finished 1-1/4-length behind in third.
Frido PV earned his second straight victory and fourth in just five starts this season. The six-year-old son of Muscle Mass is trained by Yves St Jacques for owner/breeder Marcel Brouillard of St-Marcel-De-Richelieu, Que. He paid $3.20 to win.
Pascal Berube, Stephane Brosseau and Jocelyn Gendeon all had driving doubles while Serge Houde had a training double.
Live racing resumes Sunday at 12 noon with three divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers. There are two male divisions and one for the mares. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)