The Invitational Trot at the Hippodrome 3R has been the toughest race to win this season and once again it was a newcomer that won the top trot Tuesday evening.
This week the honours went to Denis Filion’s Theregoesthegroom, who was able to take advantage of a mishap in the backstretch and turn it into a neck triumph.
The sixth race feature saw Rocky Boy and driver Marc Belanger fly out to the early lead with last week’s return winner, Commissioner Daley and trainer/driver Guy Gagnon grabbing the two-hole spot as they went to the opening quarter in a speedy :28.1.
They raced Indian-style until the half mile marker in :57.4 as Caroluzzo and driver Stephane Gendron started up first-over from fifth place but was not gaining ground on the leader.
But as Rocky Boy approached the three-quarter pole, he made an uncharacteristic break and driver Marc Belanger has to take him to the outside and out of the race.
Guy Gagnon was moving to the outside with Commissioner Daley and was blind switched by both Theregoesthegroom and Filion on the outside and on the inside, it was Four Starz Speed and driver/trainer Kevin Maguire shooting up along the cones and taking the lead as they passed the three-quarters in 1:28.3.
Then in a dramatic stretch drive, Theregoesthegroom battled head and head with Four Starz Speed with Theregoesthegroom getting up at the wire by a long neck in 1:59.4. Caroluzzo was third.
It was only the second start and first win of the season for Theregoesthegroom, a five-year-old stallion by Muscle Mass, who is co-owned by Denis Filion with Sonia Moderie and Jules Sigler. He paid $12.00 to win.
Live racing resumes at H3R on Sunday afternoon, first race post time at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
(Quebec Jockey Club)
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Hippodrome 3R.