While there is still a fourth preliminary division of the $250,000 Quebec-Bred Series to be raced next week and then the $65,000 final on September 6, this Sunday’s match-up of Wanda Bayama vs. Voodoo Charm at the Hippodrome 3R will still be a race that fans will not want to miss.
The donnybrook takes place in the second race, the first of two three-year-old pacing filly divisions. Wanda Bayama starts from post one for trainer/driver Yves Filion and Voodoo Charm goes from post five for driver Mario Charron.
Both fillies do their best racing on the front-end. Last week, Wanda Bayama wired the field in 1:58, the fastest win by any filly in the series so far. Last week Voodoo Charm also led from the start for her third straight victory.
So who do you ask for an expert opinion of this race? We went to the Hippodrome 3R’s leading driver, Denis St Pierre, to hear how he thinks the race will go.
“First off,” St Pierre said, “You have two great drivers in Yves Filion (Wanda Bayama) and Mario Charron (Voodoo Charm). I give that edge to Yves Filion as he is a sly fox when it comes to driving.
“Both these fillies are hot headed and need to be on the lead,” St Pierre explained. “So I can see either a battle for control of the lead early that I think Voodoo Charm can win, but you have to also watch out for Kinnder Elegance (post four), who can also leave well and may do that just to try and get good position. That could then force either Wanda Bayama or Voodoo Charm to overextend themselves early to get to the lead, which could cost them the race when they come down the stretch.
“If there is this battle early for the lead,” St Pierre explained, “you have to watch out for the closers in the race who can benefit from live cover and out-kick the leaders to the wire.
“Thus I feel that Wanda Bayama,” St Pierre added, “starting from post one, is in perfect position to get live cover and then come on late in the race, even if Filion has to come first-over with her. There is so much strategy involved in this race and split second decisions needed by the drivers. It will be the best race on the program [Sunday]. I will be watching it for sure but I would rather have a drive in it.”
The third race, second filly division has only one horse in the race that is not a maiden. Big Bertha is the only winner in the field. She starts from post five for driver Mario Charron and back on June 28 won at 3R in 2:00. She is the big favourite in the race for owner/breeder/trainer Maire Claude Aird.
Due to multiple owner/trainer entries, the colt division will be a non-wagering event to be held between the fifth and sixth races on the program. Featured will be prior series division winner SOS Justified taking on top performers Western Bayama, Antar Phil and Mach On The Beach.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following links: Regular Entries / Non-Wagering Entries
(With files from QJC)