In his first appearance in 17 years at Hippodrome 3R, driver Mario Baillargeon stole the show.
The Ontario-based veteran prevailed in two of the four $25,000 finals for older Quebec-breds Sunday afternoon at the Trois-Rivieres oval.
He captured the final for older pacers with 2-5 favourite Cliff Drummond, holding off archrival China Grill by a neck in 1:56, and also won the final for pacing mares with Prestige, who out-finished entrymate Intense by a neck in 1:56.2 on a track rated 'good' after heavy morning rains. The entry was favoured at 1-5, mostly because of Intense, but Baillargeon roused Prestige three-wide down the backstretch and collared her at the top of the stretch.
"It's a lot of fun coming back," Baillargeon said in the winner's circle. "When I came back from the U.S. in 1989, I spent seven months here."
Cliff Drummond is a five-year-old Leader Bayama ridgling owned by trainer Pierre Ouellette of St. Charles Borromee, Que. Prestige is a five-year-old Electric Stena mare from the stable of trainer/owner Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, Que.
If Baillargeon had an excellent day, it was the opposite for the connections of Breeders Crown champion Intimidate.
Expected to easily dominate in the $25,000 final for older trotters, Intimidate broke twice in the race, still got up for third with a late charge in the stretch for driver Yves Filion, then was disqualified and placed eighth and last for interfering with 16-1 shot Kojak Presquile at the half. He'd won seven races in a row entering the race.
The winner, and leader throughout, was five-year-old Promising Catch gelding Le Senateur A L, who repelled a determined challenge at the half from Sucre A La Creme and finished up the mile in 2:00.1. Davignon, an 18-1 shot, finished second.
Le Senateur AL is owned and trained by Andre Lachance of Mirabel, Que.
"Luck smiled on us today," said driver Sylvain Lacaille. "I left as usual because the horse was good in front. I thought [Intimidate] was coming, but it was Gilles [Gendron, driving Sucre A La Crème] and we kept him out. When I didn't see him [Intimidate] coming three-wide at the three-quarter pole, I knew there was something."
Intimidate's owners, Luc Blais and Judy Farrow, had another disappointment in the $25,000 final for trotting mares when their Onthemoneyside, the 3-5 favourite also driven by Yves Filion, fell a half-length short of pacesetter Aquanilla at the wire. Aquanilla, a five-year-old Malabar Aqua mare owned by Ginette Rancourt of Varennes, Que., trotted the mile in 2:00.3.
"My idea was to race in front, back up the tempo a bit. I knew they'd have trouble bearing me," said driver Mario Charron.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)