Three-time Quebec-Bred champion Atomic Million AM showed he still has plenty of speed at age eight, as he easily won Hippodrome 3R’s Preferred Pace on Sunday (June 2).
Racing over a rain-soaked track labelled ‘good’ with a two-second allowance, driver Marie Claude Auger sent Atomic Million AM right to the front.
Going to the opening quarter mile in :27.3, the pocket-sitting Windsum Cheyenne (driven by Stephane Gendron), pulled the pocket to challenge Atomic Million AM and Auger forced Gendron to take his horse right back into the pocket trip in Race 6.
They raced to the half mile in :57.1. Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) came first-over. Despite a valiant effort, Outlaw Turn N Burn was unable to collar the race leader down the backstretch and to the three-quarter-mile marker in 1:26.3.
Auger let Atomic Million AM have his head around the final turn, and the gelded son of Million Dollar Cam pulled away from the field in the stretch. He won by four and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.4. Ufdragon Rocket (Pascal Berube) was second and Windsum Cheyenne finished third.
Atomic Million AM and driver Marie Claude Auger pictured victorious at H3R on Sunday, June 2, 2019.
Atomic Million AM is bred and is owned and trained by Alain Martin of Gatineau. The bargain of the day at the betting windows was Atomic Million AM, as he went off at odds of 3-1 and paid a generous $8.60 to win.
Track Notes: Requested, the winningest horse at ‘H3R’ last year, gave notice he is back in the hunt again in 2019, as he won the Preferred II Pace with ease for driver Jocelyn Gendron in 1:57.3 over the off-track. He paid a generous $12.30 to win. Stephane Gendron led all drivers on Sunday with four winners. Michel Allard led all trainers with two wins. Gendron now leads all drivers at the meet with 12 wins. Isabelle Binet leads the training ranks with six wins from her stable. Live racing will resume at Hippodrome 3R on Friday evening and first post has been set as 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at H3R, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)