Ladycorona was the fastest division winner of the opening leg of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacers on Sunday afternoon (July 16) at Hippodrome 3R.
There were four $7,500 divisions in the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacers -- two for the fillies and a pair for the colts. The top eight divisional point-earners after three preliminary rounds will return on Sunday, Sept. 10 for their respective $65,000 finals.
The track was rated 'good' for the first leg with an allowance of two seconds after earlier rainstorms ended at the start of the race program.
Ladycorona (pictured above) started from post three in the second division of the series for the fillies. With driver Pascal Berube in the sulky, Ladycorona sped to the lead right off the starting gate, with insider GA Speed Matrix (Alain Carrier) sitting in second, to the first quarter in :28.3.
Ladycorona led the field to the half-mile in an easy 1:00.4 before YS Sensationalcity (Jocelyn Gendron) went first-over to challenge and pressed the pace to three-quarters in 1:29.3.
Ladycorona and Berube then said "goodbye" to the field and opened up in the stretch to win in a romp by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:58.4. YS Sensationalcity was second with GA Speed Matrix third.
The win was the third this year from eight starts for Ladycorona, who is trained by Yves Tessier for owner/breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Que. The Bettors Delight filly, who won a division of last year's Lucien Bombardier Stakes, was the bettors' choice and she paid $2.50 to win.
In the first division of the series for pacing fillies, Godiva Ice Cream and driver Robert Shepherd made a first-over move against Irish Mary (Pascal Berube) at the three-quarters mark and took over in the stretch for the maiden-breaking victory in 2:00, with Pocahontas Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) following the cover and finishing a length behind in second over Irish Mary.
It was the first pari-mutuel victory in four starts for Godiva Ice Cream, a daughter of Shadow Play trained by Lyne Asselin for owner/breeder Raymond Larose of St-Henri-De-Levis, Que. She returned $15.60 to win.
In the first division for the colts, Bets Beach stayed undefeated with his second straight winning effort. Driven by Pascal Berube, the All Bets Off gelding was parked first-over from the half-mile against leader Little Diamond (William Roy) and kept on grinding it out down the stretch to win by a head in 2:00.4. Little Diamond was second with favourite Attitude (Stephane Brosseau) three-quarters of a length back in third.
Bets Beach is owned by trainer Yves Tessier along with Gina Bragagnolo of Lavaltri, Que., Michel Letarte of Boucherville, Que., and Montreal's Jean Allaire. After sharing his first win in a dead-heat finish on July 7, he had the spotlight all to himself in his second successful start and paid $10.10 to win.
The second colt division was won by Kansas Panic, who had to make a three-wide move in the backstretch for driver Robert Shepherd. The Sunshine Beach gelding raced outside the entire final quarter and still was able to get up and win going away by one length in 2:00. Favoured Fantome En Joie (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Maximus BG (Jocelyn Gendron) third.
The win was the first in two starts this year and second victory lifetime for Kansas Panic. He is trained by David Pilon for owner/breeder Brian Paquet of Quebec City. He paid $7.10 to win.
The fastest mile of the day was in the $7,000 Mares Preferred Handicap Pace where Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau) was able to hold off the first-over charge by favourite Kiss Me Bad (Steven Gagnon) -- who caught her by a neck in last Sunday's Quebec-Bred Series final -- to win this time by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.2. Arrhythmogenic (Marie-Claude Auger) was third.
The win was the second in eight starts this year for the five-year-old Bettors Delight distaffer, who paid $5.30 to win. She is trained by Jean-Francois Reid, co-owner with Marie-Claude Reid of Anjou, Que., and Mario Menard of Montreal.
In the $7,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, D Gs De Vito (Jonathan Lachance) took the lead from BS Tyrrific (Jimmy Gagnon) after the first half and defeated that foe by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1 despite finishing with broken equipment. Snap Test (Robert Shepherd) completed the top three finish order.
Guylaine Fortin trains the seven-year-old Sportswriter gelding, who is three-for-nine this year, for owner/breeder Daniel Surprenant of Saint-Valentin, Que. He paid $4.40 to win as the top pick.
Live harness racing resumes on Friday, July 21 when 3R will host the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies. First race post time is 4 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)