The three-year-old Quebec-bred pacers were on display at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, July 14 with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series. There were four $7,500 divisions, two each for the colts and fillies.
The fastest of the four divisions came in the ninth race, second colt division as the overwhelming 1-9 race favourite, Boomboom Tonight, was able to wire the field in a romp. Leaving from post four, Boomboom Tonight with driver Pascal Berube sped by HP Coaticook (Stephane Brosseau) and instantly held the field at bay to the first quarter in :29, then the half-mile in :59.2 and the three-quarters in 1:28.1. The Sportswriter gelding did not slow down around the final turn and opened up down the stretch, winning with ease by 8-1/2 lengths in 1:56.1. HP Coaticook was second with Dan Speed (Jessica Turenne) third.
The win was the second (consecutive) from seven season starts for Boomboom Tonight, who was bred and is owned and trained by Elisabeth Pothier. Boomboom Tonight paid $2.10 to win.
Driver Louis-Philippe Roy came back to 3R to drive just two horses that he owns and did not go home without a trip to the winner’s circle. In the eighth race, first $7,500 division of the Breeders Trophy Series for the colts, he was able to wire the field with his own Olaf Du Lac.
Leaving from post four, Olaf Du Lac took the lead away from Ambitious Mind (Francis Picard) by the first quarter in :28.3 then cut the half-mile in :58.4 as race favourite Gladiator S BG (Pascal Berube) started up first-over. By three-quarters in 1:28.2, Gladiator S BG was gaining on Olaf Du Lac, but on the final turn, Roy asked his horse for more and the son of Sportswriter responded. Those two battled to the wire with Olaf Du Lac holding on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1 over Gladiator S BG. Ambitious Mind was third.
The win was the third of the season from 11 starts for Olaf Du Lac, who was bred by Roy and is co-owned by Roy with his older brother, Pierre-Luc Roy, along with Maude Larouche and Jean Allaire. He paid $4.70 to win.
In fourth race, first division for the fillies, favourite The Heart Valley and driver Marie-Claude Auger traded early leads with D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) and then sat the pocket trip through fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:30. Then off the final turn, Auger went after the leader and The Heart Valley tore away in the stretch to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:59.2. D Gs Lorijeanne was second with Ma Diva (Sylvain Lacaille) third.
The time of the mile was a lifetime mark for The Heart Valley, who won for the first time in 11 seasonal starts. The State Treasurer filly is trained by Louis-Philippe Turcotte for Investissement K F B, Gerard Demers and Jean Roch Marois. The Heart Valley paid $3.50 to win.
The fastest of the filly divisions was the sixth race in which race favourite One More Bet and driver Jocelyn Gendron quarter-moved on Ronda Du Lac (Louis-Philippe Roy) in :28.1 and then tore away from the field. One More Bet sliced fractions of :58 and 1:28.1, easily winning in the stretch by two lengths in 1:57. YS Flowernumberten (Pascal Berube) was second over Ronda Du Lac.
The win was the first win in eight starts this year for One More Bet, trained by Jean Tourigny. The daughter of All Bets Off was bred and is owned by Les Ecuries Morel Inc. She paid $2.20 to win.
The fastest mile of the season to this point was recorded in the 10th race, $6,500 Preferred Handicap Pace as Aladdin and driver Stephane Brosseau led from start to finish in 1:53.4. Trained by Maxime Velaye, the five-year-old Shadow Play gelding now has two victories through eight starts in 2024 for owner/breeder Guy Corbeil.
Leading driver Pascal Berube had a triple on Sunday and Jocelyn Gendron a driving double.
Live harness racing resumes at 3R next Friday, July 19 with first race post time at 4 p.m. The second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old Quebec-bred trotting colts and fillies will be featured.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)