Despite having to race in windy, raining weather, two-year-old trotting colt Emotions Riches opened some eyes during the Saturday afternoon card of harness racing at Hippodrome 3R.
Competing in the first event that was dedicated to the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit, Emotion Riches nearly tied the track record for his age, gait and gender.
Owned and trained by Cassandra Lecourt of Mirabel, Emotions Riches was driven by Tyler Jones. They started from post five and left some out of the starting gate as Eyes Of Justice (Steeven Genois) was first on the lead.
Jones kept Emotions Riches on the outside and was parked out by Eyes Of Justice through a :30.1 first quarter before being able to clear to the lead. Once on top, Emotions Riches kept the field at bay, going to the half mile in 1:01.3 and the three-quarters in 1:32.2 before kicking in a :29.3 last quarter mile and pulling away from the field to win by ten and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.1.
Eyes Of Justice was second with Aoki (Herve Kirouac) third.
For Emotions Riches, his time of 2:02.1 was just three-fifths of a second from tying the track record for two-year-old trotting colts of 2:01.3 that is co-held by Jobie Tempest (1993) and Cesar Duharas (2018). The two-year-old son of Wheeling N Dealin paid $5.50 to win.
The two-year-old pace in the second race saw Shanghaibluebeach and driver Pascal Berube lead from start to finish in 2:04.3. The filly by Shanghai Phil won by four open lengths for owner/trainer Pierre Leclerc of Louiseville and paid $4.00 to win.
In the Challenge Cup for Quebec Regional Fair Drivers, Antoine Desrochers, 32, of Warwick was able to lead from start to finish with Matts Phil in 2:03.3. They won by one and one-quarter lengths over SOS Mach Xtreme (Roxanne Viau) and Lookin Ata Winner (Mario Morel). Matts Phil is trained and co-owned by Antoine with Louis Desroches.
Track Notes: Because of COVID-19, the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit that is usually held at fair tracks throughout Quebec was canceled for 2020. The Quebec Jockey Club agreed to have four special Saturday programs devoted to horses that would have raced in the fairs. Live harness racing resumes at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday with a program beginning at 1:00 p.m.
To view the results from Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)