Both a colt and filly sired by Dan Patch and O’Brien award winner, Wheeling N Dealin, were victorious in the opening round of the $470,000 Future Stars Series at the Hippodrome 3R Friday for trotters.
The series features three rounds of preliminary competition for two-year-old trotters and pacers with the top eight point earners returning on Sunday, September 8 for their respective $55,000 finals.
Each of the two divisions Friday raced for a purse of $10,000.
The sixth race saw the overwhelming 1-5 favourite, Kenogami Coco and driver Stephane Brosseau take the early lead away from Major Bay (Francis Picard) and then led to the finish, winning by one and one-half lengths over Babidibou (Stephane Gendron) with Frido PV (Yves St Jacques) third.
The gelded son of Wheeling N Dealing covered the one-mile race in 2:04.2 for his first victory. He is trained by Dany Fontaine and was bred by Jean Francois Reid, who co-owns the gelding with Marie Claude Reid of Anjou. He paid $2.70 to win.
In the third race, the filly division of the Future Stars Series, the race was owned from start to finish by Emotions Durables and driver Tyler Jones.
Leaving from post four, Jones sent the daughter of Wheeling N Dealin right to the front and the pair never had to look back, winning with ease by two and three-quarter lengths in 2:08. The pocket-sitting Muscle Beauty (Pascal Berube) was second with Anotherdeal (Simon Delisle) third.
It was the maiden victory in two lifetime starts for Emotions Durables. She is trained and owned by Cassandra Lecourt of Ste-Victoira De Sorel and paid $7.20 to win.
Both Pascal Berube and Stephane Brosseau had driving doubles while trainer Dany Fontaine sent out two winners from his stable.
On Sunday there are four $7,500 divisions (two for fillies and two for colts) of the Future Stars Series for the pacers.
Standouts include undefeated Whitecookie (post one) in the third race for the colts. The son of Windfall Blue Chip has won twice in 1:58.2, and 1:58.3 at Rideau Carleton Raceway for owner, trainer and driver Marie Claude Auger.
Another top colt is the Bettors Delight son, My Bettors Del (post five) in the sixth race. Although winless in three starts this season, he has been racing against the best in Ontario for trainer Jacques Dupont and owners Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation and Gestion Ham Audet Inc of Portneuf.
My Bettors Del won a qualifier in 1:57 but just last week was second in a $23,500 Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots division race-timed in 1:54.2.
He will be taking on three recent winners, Kinnder Big Boss (post one), Eclat De Rire (post three) and Saloon Magic (post four).
Post time Sunday is 1:00 pm. For a free race program, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
(QJC)
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Hippodrome 3R.