The big match-up between Wanda Bayama and Voodoo Charm never took place Sunday in the third round of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers at the Hippodrome 3R.
It wasn’t that both fillies weren't there to race, but apparently Voodoo Charm was not at her best as she went on a wild break at the start of the race, thus allowing Wanda Bayama and trainer/driver Yves Filion to score an easy victory.
With Voodoo Charm (Mario Charron) breaking stride and pulling back to last after the start of the second race, Filion sent Wanda Bayama to the front while HP Rubis Joyce (Louis Philippe Roy) left from post six and got the two-hole trip as they went to the opening quarter in :29.
They breezed to the half in :59.4 with Wanda Bayama and Filion in command and then the race got interesting as Stephane Brosseau made a bold move with Miss Bro, coming first-over to challenge Wanda Bayama and pressed them to the three-quarters in 1:29.3.
At the top of the stretch, Miss Bro could not keep the pressure on as Wanda Bayama went on to win by two lengths in 1:59.1. HP Rubis Joyce was second with Miss Bro fading to third-place.
The win was the second in a row and fourth on the year for Wanda Bayama. The daughter of Western Ideal was bred and is co-owned by Bayama Farms. She paid $4.30 to win.
In the third race, second filly division, driver Mario Charron had all the power with Big Bertha, who led from start to finish in an eight and one-half length romp in 2:00.1.
Leaving from post five, Big Bertha made the lead with ease and had everything go her way through fractions of :28.4, 1:00.4 and 1:30.3 before pulling away from the field, leading by open lengths at the top of the stretch. No Panic (Gaetan Lamy) was second with Savannah Prestige (Denis St Pierre) third.
Sired by Santanna Blue Chip, Big Bertha earned her second win in 11 starts during her debut season. She was bred and is owned and trained by Marie Claude Aird. Big Bertha paid $2.50 to win.
The colt division, due to multiple owner/trainer entries, was held as a non-wagering race.
Horses winning on the front end was the order of the day as Mach On The Beach and driver Pascal Berube wired the field in 1:58.
Cutting fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:28.3 with some pressure from a first-over SOS Justified (Mario Charron), Mach On The Beach had things his own way, winning by two and one-half lengths. The pocket-sitting Antar Phil (Gaetan Lamy) was second with Western Bayama (Yves Filion) third.
The win was the first in 12 lifetime starts for Mach On The Beach, a son of Mach Three who is trained by Dany Fontaine for Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following links: Wagering Results / Non-Wagering Results.
(With files from QJC)