Despite heavy downpours starting in the post parade, Kiss Me Bad and owner/driver Steven Gagnon were able to make a bold, three-wide move in the backstretch en route to winning the Preferred Pace on Sunday, June 9 at Hippodrome 3R.
In the $5,000 featured 10th race finale, Twizzler GT (Jonathan Lachance) fired off the gate from post seven to take the early lead with Sports Bettor (Pascal Berube) sitting second until he moved out to take the lead at the opening quarter-mile in :28.3.
Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau) was already on the move first-over and Kiss Me Bad was following the cover second-over.The race favourite, Thong Control (Marie-Claude Auger), was third-over as they went by the half-mile in :59.4.
As the field entered the backstretch, Gagnon did not want to wait any more and moved Kiss Me Bad three-wide with Thong Control following that cover. The three-quarters mark was reached in 1:30.1.
Around the final turn, Kiss Me Bad collared Sports Bettor with Thong Control joining the fray as the three horses battled down the stretch. Kiss Me Bad pulled ahead at the wire to win by half a length in 1:58.3 over the track rated one second off. Sports Bettor held for second with Thong Control third.
"It rained a lot during the post parade," noted Gagnon after the race. "And it was discouraging, but the bottom of the track seemed very solid, which gave me confidence if the race went well because my mare is not the best in the mud, and at the three-quarters, I knew what was capable because I had had good cover from Celia Bayama. On the other hand, Pascal's horse [Sports Bettor] gave a thumbs up at the end and I had them in my sights, but feared we may not reach them. But 'Kiss' gave me one more effort for the win. I, too, was very happy with her great strength."
A career winner of 24 races and more than $100,000, Kiss Me Bad earned her second straight victory through her first four starts of the year. One of only three mares in the field, Kiss Me Bad is an eight-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover trained by Daniel Mondou. She paid a generous $11.60 to win.
Both Marie-Claude Auger and Stephane Brosseau had driving doubles.
Live harness racing resumes at 3R on Friday, June 14, 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)