Sunday afternoon's (July 22) program at Hippodrome 3R featured four opening-round divisions of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies, with each division racing for a purse of $7,500.
After the three preliminary rounds of the Future Stars Series are completed, the top eight point-earners return for their respective $55,000 finals on Sunday, Sept. 9.
In the first division of the Future Stars Series for colts (race three), it was a bittersweet victory for driver Jonathan Lachance with D Gs De Vito, who was trained by Jonathan’s father, Mario Lachance, who passed on Saturday.
The race saw Sport Emilio BG and Francis Picard go right to the early lead with SOS Nostoppinmenow (Stephane Gendron) sitting the pocket. Before the half-mile, Lachance came first-over with 1-5 favourite D Gs De Vito, and they were able to slip into the two-hole spot by the turn.
When the field reached the backstretch, Lachance moved D Gs De Vito out again to challenge Sport Emilio BG, and those two locked horns past the three-quarters and around the final turn. In the stretch, D Gs De Vito was the strong horse and beat Sport Emilio BG by a half-length in 2:03. SOS Nostoppinmenow was third.
It was the second straight win for D Gs De Vito. The unbeaten son of Sportswriter paid $2.50 to win. He was bred and is owned by Daniel Surprenant.
In the second colt division (race six), it was all YS Sunshine. The son of Sunshine Beach from top mare Bolero Tallia was bred and is owned by Yves Sarrazin.
Driven by Stephane Gendron, YS Sunshine led from start to finish, holding the field at bay and drawing off in the stretch to win by three lengths in 2:01.2. Guinness Panic (Lachance) was second with Angelo Benjo (Rodney La Framboise) third.
YS Sunshine is trained by Michel Allard and paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favourite.
The first of the filly divisions (race five) saw undefeated Hurryupatthebeach and driver Pascal Berube lead from start to finish, scoring with ease by 3-1/2 lengths in 2:00, the fastest among all four divisions. The pocket-sitting D Gs Fairystarts (Lachance) was second with Cooking The Speed (Gendron) third.
It was the third straight win for Hurryupatthebeach and a lifetime mark. The daughter of Up The Credit is trained by Pierre Leclerc, who bred and co-owns the filly with Gina Bragagnolo. She paid $3.80 to win.
In the second division of the Future Stars Series for fillies (race eight), it was Majelyca and driver Marie Claude Auger giving the early lead away to HP Xanadu and driver Stephane Brosseau. They raced that way until Auger pulled the ear plugs on Majelyca after the three-quarters. They came after HP Xanadu, collared the leader by the top of the stretch and went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:02.1. HP Xanadu was second with Broncos Sena (Pascal Berube) third.
Trained by Martine Biron, Majelyca is sired by Windfall Blue Chip. She is owned by Bernard Jutras, who co-bred her with Biron. She paid $4.60 to win.
Requested ($3.70) won the ninth-race pace in 1:56 for driver Francis Picard. It was his sixth win at H3R, making him the winningest horse this season.
Both Stephanie Brosseau and Stephane Gendron had driving doubles.
Coming up Tuesday evening (July 24) at H3R is the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies. Post time is 6:30 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)