After an extended battle in Sunday afternoon's (June 28) Preferred Pace at Hippodrome 3R, Hooter Shooter ($6.70) emerged with a big victory.
Three horses all vied for the lead from the start of the race — Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) from the rail, Appleby Hanover (Stephane Gendron) from post 2, and 2-5 favourite G A Speed Sammy (Pascal Berube).
Past the :27.1 opening quarter, Outlaw Turn N Burn gave way to Appleby Hanover, who then ceded control to a persistent G A Speed Sammy. Gendron then tried again for the lead, going first-over after G A Speed Sammy past the half.
The battle continued up the backstretch, with Outlaw Turn N Burn advancing second-over and later three-wide. By three-quarters in 1:26.2, Hooter Shooter and Stephane Brosseau got into the hunt, and were briefly four-wide going into the final turn.
Hooter Shooter cleared horses to assume first-over position against G A Speed Sammy. Hooter Shooter collared the leader starting down the stretch and went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56.1. G A Speed Sammy was second with Matts Tuition (William Roy) third.
Hooter Shooter, a seven-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding, posted his second win this year for owner-trainer Marc Andre Simoneau.
In the Preferred Trot, Ice O Late ($6.90) tipped three-wide at the three-quarter mile pole for Francis Picard and then easily blew by Holiday Party (Pascal Berube) to win in 2:01.
R Rkadabra and Stephane Gendron cut the mile with Holiday Party sitting the pocket. Precieuse CC (Claude Beausoleil) advanced first-over, with Voodoo Man (Steeven Genois) second-over and Ice O Late nowhere in the hunt.
On the backstretch, Genois sent Voodoo Man three-wide and cleared to first-over as Picard moved Ice O Late three-wide. On the final turn, Voodoo Man faded, giving Holiday Party clearance to slip out from second and challenge the leadeer at the top of the stretch.
Ice O Late and Picard pulled away for a 3-1/4 length triumph. Holiday Party was second with Lucky Promesses (Samuel) Fillion) placed third.
It was the first start of 2020 for Ice O Late, an eight-year-old Yankee Glide gelding trained by Luc Chouinard, who shares ownership with Daniel Lamarre.
The Preferred Pace for fillies and mares saw Sieras Rose ($16.60) and driver Pierre Luc Roy upset 6-5 favourite Sophies Cam.
Sophies Cam led from the start for Stephane Brosseau while Sieras Rose sat a perfect two-hole trip. On the final turn, Roy moved Sieras Rose out of the pocket and went after Sophies Cam, collaring them in deep stretch to win by a long neck in 1:58.4. Uptown Woman (Berube) was third.
An eight-year-old mare by No Pan Intended, Sieras Rose is trained by Charles Gaudreault for owner Steve Perreault.
Stephane Gendron and Francis Picard had driving doubles, and trainer Charles Gaudreault notched a double as well.
Live racing resumes at Hippodrome 3R next Friday afternoon (July 3) with first race post time at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
(Québec Jockey Club)