Rebel Voyager and driver Stephane Gendron – who had yet to race against the favourite, Wildriverbumblebee – led from start to finish and took the sting out of the unbeaten Wildriverbumblebee at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, July 16.
The eighth race was one of two divisions of the Breeders Cup Series for three-year-old colt and filly pacers. After Sunday’s races, the top-eight point earners throughout the series will return to H3R Sunday, September 8 for their $65,000 finals.
The colt division saw Rebel Voyager, a 12-1 longshot, and Gendron fly out to the early lead by five open lengths at the first quarter in :27.3. Majo Lou Beka (driven by Mario Lachance) was a distant second place.
Still leading by three lengths at the half mile in :57.1 was when driver Stephane Brosseau came first-over with Wildriverbumblebee to take on Rebel Voyager. Unlike last week, Wildriverbumblebee was unable to collar Rebel Voyager as the gelding passed the three-quarters in 1:26.1.
On the final turn, Wildriverbumblebee had enough and began to fade and eventually finished in sixth place.
Rebel Voyager was still well in-hand for Gendron and went on to win with ease by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:55.3. C L Sportaction (Jonathan Lachance) was second and Noplay (Melanie Plourde) finished third.
It was the tenth victory in 20 starts this year for Rebel Voyager and the time tied his lifetime mark set at Woodbine Racetrack earlier this year. The chestnut gelding by Shanghai Phil is trained by Francis Richard and was bred and is owned by the ICR Racing Stable of Pefferlaw.
In the third-race filly division of the Breeders Cup Series, YS Tallia was sent off as the overwhelming 1-9 betting favourite and gave her backers at the betting window quite a scare until the final strides to the wire.
The race start saw Chaleurs Melodie (Carl Duguay) leave from Post 6 with 20-1 Kinnderuntouchable (Justin Filion) also leaving from Post 7. The two foes battled head to head for the early lead (Chaleurs Melodie broke stride).
Filion then had control of the race after a :28.3 opening quarter and went on to lead the field to the half-mile marker in :59.1. That is when YS Tallia, with Gaetan Lamy in the sulky, came first-over against Kinnderuntouchable. They raced neck and neck past the three-quarters in 1:29.2. Kinnderuntouchable went on to hold off YS Tallia around the final turn.
As the two started down the stretch, YS Tallia began to bear out and Kinnderuntouchable tried to dig in, but could not. YS Tallia was able to win by a half length in 1:59.1. Sophies Cam (Pierre-Luc Roy) was third.
Duguay filed an objection again Filion for interference on the first turn, but it was disallowed by the judges.
It was the third victory this year for YS Tallia, a daughter of Western Ideal, who is trained by Michel Allard for owner/breeder Yves Sarrazin of Le Presentation. She paid just $2.10 to win.
Track Notes: Stephane Gendron had the hot hands among the drivers at H3RSunday with a driving triple. It was the third time this year that Gendron posted a driving triple.
In the ninth race, driver Simon Delisle pulled off the biggest upset of the year, as he won with Calgary Seelster at odds of 41-1, which paid $84.80 on a successful win wager. It was the fastest win on the card Sunday, 1:54.4, and the sixth win of the year for Calgary Seelster.
Live racing will resume at H3R on Tuesday evening with the third and final round of the Breeders Cup Series for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. There are three divisions, but due to short fields they will be non-wagering races held after the second, fourth and sixth races on the betting card. First post is 7:00 p.m.
For more information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)