The Light Speed and driver Jimmy Gagnon were able to avenge their loss last week with an impressive victory in the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series held at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday afternoon (June 18).
The ninth race was one of two $6,500 second round divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series for aged pacers.
The Light Speed and Gagnon were first on the lead with last week’s return winner Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) leaving from post five and grabbing the pocket trip to the first quarter in :27.4. Mickeymaksomespeed (Jocelyn Gendron) went first-over to challenge The Light Speed, pressing them to the half in :57.2. By the three-quarters in 1:25.3, Mickeymaksomespeed was beginning to tire, but he was relentless and kept Aladdin boxed in behind The Light Speed around the final turn. As they started down the stretch, Brosseau found clearance with Aladdin, but it was too late as The Light Speed held them off to win by a long neck in 1:54.3. Stock (Pascal Berube) closed well to be third.
Owned by Michel Nolette of Princeville, Que., The Light Speed collected his seventh win of the season in just 11 starts. The five-year-old Moon Beam gelding has now won four of his last five starts for trainer Guy Gagnon. He paid $4 to win.
The older mares competed in the Quebec-Bred Series in the third race with a field of nine starters after Celia Bayama was scratched.
Return winner Lili GL (Pascal Berube) was first on the lead with race favourite Platine Alpha (Jimmy Gagnon) forcing herself into the two-hole by the first quarter in :28.2. Return winner from the opening round of the series, Kiss Me Bad went first-over for trainer/driver/owner Steven Gagnon. They were followed by Fancy Girl (Jonathan Lachance) second-over. The half was tripped at :58. As the field reached the three-quarters in 1:27.1, Kiss Me Bad had worn down Lili GL and took over the lead as they raced around the final turn. Kiss Me Bad and Gagnon then pulled away from the field in the stretch to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. Lil GL was second with Platine Alpha third.
It was the second straight win for Kiss Me Bad, who is on course to sweep the series. The seven-year-old Badlands Hanover mare paid $7.50 to win.
In the fifth race, the $6,500 Preferred Handicap Pace, Siddhartha and driver Stephane Brosseau swept three-wide at the three-quarters to loop the field en route to a 1-1/4-length victory in 1:57. Manhattan Joe (Samuel Fillion) was second with BS Tyrrific (Jimmy Gagnon) third. Siddhartha, a seven-year-old son of So Surreal owned and trained by Louis-Philippe Turcotte, paid $4 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from The Quebec Jockey Club)