Two-year-old trotters stepped into the spotlight in the first preliminary leg of the Coupe De L'Avenir at Hippodrome 3R on Friday, July 25, with Breeze Canneberge hoping to follow in the hoofprints of her successful sisters.
In the first of two $7,500 filly divisions, Breeze Canneberge ($9.20) was on top by more than five lengths at the quarter pole after an early leaver made a miscue then she cruised to a 2:06.2 maiden-breaking victory in her second career start for trainer/driver Marie-Claude Auger and partners Marc-Antoine Pilon and 9129 9560 Quebec Inc. The homebred Muscle Hill-Torches Angel filly is a full sister to Auger's 2023 Coupe De L'Avenir divisional champion Sensi Amnesia -- a 1:59.4 winner in Friday's finale -- and half sibling to multiple prelim winner Chic Choc Rose. Silver Pride (Robert Shepherd) won the race for place over favourite Cool Beer (Pascal Berube).
In the other filly division, Ecurie Provoquante's homebred Tout En Muscle ($14.50) and driver Simon Delisle held off the pocket-popping favourite, Abby Rose Men (Guy Gagnon), by a head in 2:07.2, with Titanium Silver (Denis St. Pierre) rounding out the top three. Maxime Velaye trains the Wheeling N Dealin-Papillon Bleu filly, who also broke her maiden in her second attempt.
Magic Liam won at first asking in a $10,000 non-wagering division with four colts and geldings, leading all the way in 2:04.3 for trainer/driver Guy Gagnon. Kinnder Top Class (Robert Shepherd) was the best of the rest, 5-3/4 lengths behind, with Mustang Shillow (Pascal Berube) a distant third. Bred by Denis Marcotte, the Muscle Mass-American Gal K gelding is owned by Ecuries Guy Gagnon Inc., and Stephanie & Frederic Gagnon.
In regular racing action, last year's Coupe De L'Avenir trotting filly champion Kinnder Kahina ($13) took a new lifetime mark of 2:00.2 for trainer and owner Denitza Petrova with Robert Shepherd working out the winning trip in the sophomore filly's Friday night assignment.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Breeze Canneberge winning on July 25)