With a late scratch and the field shortened to just five starters, Windsun Cheyenne picked a perfect opportunity to upset 1-5 favourite Hooter Shooter in the $4,500 Preferred 3 & 2 Handicap Pace at the Hippodrome 3R on Friday afternoon (July 17).
Starting from the rail, driver Pascal Berube sent Windsun Cheyenne right to the lead and never looked back. With Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) sitting right on their backs, Windsun Cheyenne cut fractions of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26.3.
Hooter Shooter (Stephane Brosseau) tried coming first-over to no avail, failing to gain any ground on the leaders.
On the final turn, Picard urged Outlaw Turn N Burn to come after Windsun Cheyenne, but was unable to collar the race leader, who went on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.3. Always A Diamond (Steeven Genois) was third.
The oldest horse in the field at age 10, Windsun Cheyenne is sired by the recently deceased Cams Card Shark. The win was his second this year and 26th lifetime. He is trained and co-owned by Gina Bragagnolo of Lavaltrie, Que.
Windsun Cheyenne paid $10.20 to win.
After being parked out three-wide on the first turn from post eight, race favourite Keepall and driver Carol Voyer led the field the rest of the one-mile race in capturing the matching Preferred Trot.
Keepall held the field at bay and came on in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.2. Holiday Party (Pascal Berube) was second with Eau Naturelle (Stephane Gendron) third.
The win was the third of the season and second in the Preferred Trot for Keepall. He is a six-year-old gelding by Angus Hall, trained by Sylvain Tremblay for Ecurie Alpha of Metabetchouan, Que., and Gino Curadeau of Fermont, Que. He paid $5.10 to win.
The highest win payoff of the 2020 season took place Friday as Godiva Mackiavelyc and driver Steeven Genois upset the field in the fourth race pace at 25-1 odds, paying $52.50 to win.
Track Notes: Stephane Gendron led all the drivers on Friday with three wins. Trainer Maxime Velaye had two wins. Live racing resumes Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R. First race post time is 1 p.m. The feature is the seventh race Mares Preferred Handicap Pace with the return of Twice An Angel (post six), who was an impressive 1:56.4 winner last week and will be driven by Maxim Gaudreault.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)