Going into the Sunday afternoon (June 4) harness racing program at Hippodrome 3R, the Quebec racetrack was featuring an average win price per race this season of $14.49 -- one of the highest averages of any track in North America.
After the first race on Sunday, that average increased as 37-1 longshot Playa Duharas pulled off the upset for catch-driver Jocelyn Gendron, paying $76.30 to win.
In the $4,000 first pacing race, Playa Duharas and Gendron led the way from the start with Shes Got The Luck (Jessica Turenne) sitting the pocket trip. First-over Clear The Credit (Steven Gagnon) was just catching up to the leaders at the three-quarters, when Turenne pulled out of the pocket with Shes Got The Luck and went on to win by 5-3/4 lengths. Playa Duharas was second with Clear The Credit third.
But the judges threw up the inquiry light and ended up placing Shes Got The Luck to third place for interference. That vaulted Playa Duharas to first place and Clear The Credit was moved to second place.
The win was the first in four starts this year for Playas Duharas. The seven-year-old Sunshine Beach mare is trained and owned by Denis Belanger of Levis, Que.
Sunday's featured $5,000 Preferred Pace was a near repeat of last week’s event, but this time, winner Perpetual Rock (pictured above) and driver Pascal Berube had the lead by the first quarter instead of the half-mile.
Either way, it was another stellar effort by Perpetual Rock, who cut easy fractions of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2 before pulling away in the stretch for a 2-1/2-length triumph in 1:57.1. Stablemate BS Tyrrific (Jimmy Gagnon) sat the pocket trip to be second with second-over Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) third.
The win was the second straight and third of the year from eight starts for Perpetual Rock, who is trained and co-owned by Gina Bragagnolo with Lyne Bragagnolo. The five-year-old Pet Rock gelding paid $2.60 to win as part of the favoured entry.
It took the photo finish camera to declare the winner of the co-featured $5,000 Preferred for trotters.
X O X O (Jocelyn Gendron) went right to the early lead with Fix A Drink (Marie-Claude Auger) leaving from post six and getting the two-hole trip to the first quarter in :29. Then it was the "Princess of Trot at 3R," Stella Alpha going first-over for driver Pascal Berube with Morally Flexible (Stephane Brosseau) second-over and the race favourite, Frido PV (Jonathan Lachance), third-over.
After the half-mile in :59.4, Stella Alpha kept the pressure on X O X O and wore her down by the three-quarters in 1:29.3. Stella Alpha took over the lead as Frido PV swept three-wide on the final turn.
Stella Alpha dug in heading down the stretch and barely held off Frido PV to win by a nose in 1:59.2. Morally Flexible was also in the photo, finishing third by a half a length.
The win was the first in six starts for Stella Alpha. The four-year-old Royalty For Life mare is bred, owned and trained by Sylvain Tremblay’s Ecurie Alpha of Metabetchouan, Que. She paid $5 to win as the 3-2 second choice.
Four-time Quebec-Bred Stakes champion Capteur De Reve and driver Stephane Brosseau worked out excellent outside cover to score in a photo finish in a $4,000 trot. Capteur De Reve won by a head over My Mini Miracle (Simon Delisle) in 2:02.3 with La Bromontoise (Jerome Lombart) third. The nine-year-old Muscle Mass gelding is now undefeated in two starts this year for trainer Maxime Velaye and owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, Que. He paid $3 to win.
Pascal Berube continues his quest towards his fourth straight driving title as he drove four winners on the Sunday program while Jocelyn Gendron had a driving double.
Friday twilight racing begins next Friday, June 9 at 3R with first race post time at 4 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)