Champagne Phil will put his four-race winning streak on the line Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R. The five-year-old gelding headlines one of two divisions in the final elimination round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older pacing horses and mares.
Sired by Shanghai Phil, Champagne Phil is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the third race Sunday. He starts from post four for driver Denis St Pierre and trainer Francis Richard.
In his last four starts, Champagne Phil has won at three different tracks: twice at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, once at Mohawk Racetrack and then last week’s track record tying performance at the Hippodrome 3R.
In that mile, with St Pierre in the sulky, Champagne Phil led every step of the one mile pace, pulling away in the stretch to prevail by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:53.1 for his sixth win on the year. That mile tied the track record for older geldings set by Duc Dorleans in 2014 and shattered the Quebec-Bred Series record for his age and gait.
Other contenders in the race include McKinney (post five, 3-1), Bali (post six, 7-2) and Victor Bayama (post seven, 4-1).
“He was very strong last week,” said St Pierre. “If the conditions are right this Sunday, he could break the record. He is a very nice horse.”
The first race division for mares is headlined by last week’s divisional track record tying performer, My Tallia Ideal, from post four for driver Stephane Gendron.
Last week the five-year-old mare by Western Ideal was at her best, wiring the field by two lengths in 1:54.3. That tied the track record for older mares that Sans Frontiere set in 2013. It was the fourth win on the year for the Michel Allard trainee.
But it will not be a “walk in the park” for My Tallia Ideal as she takes on a very formidable foe in Champagne Shower, who will be starting from post three with St Pierre aboard.
A four-year-old mare by Santanna Blue Chip, Champagne Shower is on a three-race winning streak for trainer Yves Tessier. She has won the first two rounds of the series and seeks to make it a clean sweep.
Another game performer in the race is Victoria Semalu (post one) for driver Stephane Brosseau. She won an opening round of the series and was second last week to My Tallia Ideal.
The Quebec-Bred Series for older horses and mares culminates on Sunday, June 14 with the top eight point-earners in each division returning for the $35,000 finals.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)