It was most certainly “ladies night” at the Hippodrome 3R as two sophomore trotting fillies out-shined their male counterparts in winning both divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series on Wednesday.
In the fifth race, first division, Meganou, despite making a break out of the starting gate, regrouped and still was able to lead the entire mile race for driver Jocelyn Gendron. She was able to hold off a strong challenge on the final turn by Promesses Imperial (Jerome Lombart) to win by a half-length in 2:03.2. D Espoir (Pascal Berube) was third.
The 2014 Quebec-Bred Series champion earned her first win this year. A daughter of Kadabra, Meganou is trained by Daniel Martin for owner Jean Picard of Orford, Que. She paid $4.40 to win.
Then in the sixth race, second division of the series, the overwhelming favourite, Intouchable, at odds of 1-5 for driver Mario Charron, could not stay on-stride before the start and was declared a non-starter in the race.
Double Chance and driver Sylvain Lacaille took full advantage of their rail post position and shot to the early lead and never looked back. She was challenged late by a fast flying Champagne Panic (Denis Filion), who looked like he was going to overtake Double Chance coming down the stretch, but went off-stride. Double Chance went on to win in a romp by 10 open lengths. The Sprinter (Gaetan Lamy) was second with favourite National Trace (Stephane Brosseau) third.
Double Chance equalled her lifetime mark with a clocking of 2:01.3. Trained and owned by Serge Nadeau of Scott, Que., the daughter of Majestic Son earned her second win this year. She paid $6.80 to win.
The undefeated three-year-old pacing colt, J T, continued his winning ways Wednesday with his fifth straight score. The son of Badlands Hanover, driven by Stephane Brosseau, took the early lead away from Monster Magic (Gaetan Lamy) by the opening quarter-mile and then in a close stretch drive, held off Monster Magic to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. J T paid just $2.50 to win. Dominic Gladu trains the winning colt for owner Lesley Newland of Woodlawn, Ont.
Francois Morin's eight-year-old pacer Aarons Mattjesty won the two-mile leg of the series leading up to Le 5 Milles. The Daniel LaFlamme trainee won the event in 4:03.4 by seven and three-quarter lengths in rein to driver Denis St Pierre. The favourite paid $3.30 to win.
This Sunday is the fourth and final preliminary round of the $250,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers. After this Sunday’s program, the Hippodrome 3R will be closed for live racing due to the Trois-Rivieres Grand Prix auto races. Live racing will resume on Wednesday, August 12 at 7 p.m.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)