Trainer-driver Yves St. Jacques, who turned 65 last Sunday, guided Frido PV, a four-year-old son of Muscle Mass, to a 1:57.2 victory in the $5,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (June 20), missing the divisional track record set by Whitewater Rapids' divisional track record by one-fifth of a second.
St. Jacques put Frido PV right on the lead, with Captain Krupnik taking second and the heavy favourite Bucketlist Hamover — who won in 1:56.1 in his last start at 3R — forced to accept third after starting from an outer post. The quarter was reached in :28.2, and when the pace slowed down, Captain Krupnik moved to the outside and challenged at the :58.3 half.
Bucketlist Hanover had followed Captain Krupnik outside, but when that one faltered before the 1:27.1 three-quarters, Bucketlist Hanover went back inside and regathered to take another shot at the leader. But there was no catching Frido PV this day, as his two-length lead at the three-quarters became three lengths at the stretch call and wound up to be 2-1/2 lengths at the finish. Marcel Brouillard owns the fast trotter, who finished third in his Québec-bred series championship last year.
In the $4,500 Preferred Handicap distaff pace, Platine Alpha sat in the pocket, moved out at three-quarters, and then went on to take the contest in a new lifetime mark of 1:57 with Pascal Bérubé driving. The three-year-old daughter of Control The Moment, third in her Québec-bred championship and then second in the Bombardier Stake last season, seems to be approaching peak form for Sylvain Tremblay and Ecurie Alpha; both driver Bérubé and trainer Tremblay lead the local horsemen’s colony early in the meet.
Stéphane Brosseau guided home three winners on the day and Bérubé two; the only multiple on the trainers’ side was the two victories recorded by Pier-Luc Lamy, with the double doubling his lifetime conditioning triumphs to four.
Racing will return to its regular schedule, Friday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., this week.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)