Track record holder Wildwild Men made a triumphant return to the Hippodrome 3R in capturing the third race first division of the opening round of the Breeders Cup Series with a 1:59 victory for driver Robert Shepherd.
The series, for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies, features four weeks of preliminary competition with the top eight point earners returning Sunday, September 4 for their respective $65,000 finals.
It was KFB Amigo Cool and driver Guy Gagnon battling with Shepherd and Wildwild Men for control of the early lead with KFB Amigo Cool winning the early battle to the opening quarter mile in a quick :27.4. Gagnon then backed back the speed, going to the half mile in :59 as Skyflex and driver Rheo Filion came first-over and boxed in Wildwild Men. They raced that way thru the three-quarters in 1:28.1. Then in the stretch, Shepherd moved Wildwild Men to the passing lane and they shot right by KFB Amigo Cool and went on to win by one and one-half lengths with Skyflex second and KFB Amigo Cool third.
It was the first win in five starts this year for Wildwild Men. The gelded son of Muscle Mass is trained by Isabelle Darveau for co-owners Catheline Pelletier and breeder Chantal Gravel of QC. He paid $3.10 to win.
The second colt division was a non-wagering race that saw Chatemup Bill and driver Stephane Brosseau parked out Holiday Party and driver Pascal Berube to the opening quarter mile in :28. But once in command of the race, Berube and Holiday Party held the field at bay, cutting the mile to the half in :58.1 and the three-quarters in 1:29.2 before opening up on the field and scoring an eleven and one-half length romp in 1:59.1. Stablemate Andovers Choice (Guy Gagnon) was second with Chatemup Bill third.
It was the third straight win and fourth victory in eight starts this year for Holiday Party. The Holiday Road gelding is trained by Dany Fontaine for Ecurie Gaetan Bono, Inc. of Montreal, QC.
In the sixth race filly division, Y A Jailhouse Jodi posted her third straight victory, but it was a nail bitter to the wire.
The race started off with SOS Christina and driver Gaetan Lamy parking out Y S Suzanne and trainer/driver Carl Duguay to the opening quarter mile in :29.2 before letting Y S Suzanne take command. They led the field past the half mile in 1:01.1 and then in the backstretch, Stephane Gendron was on the move with Y A Jailhouse Jodi, who settled into second place behind Y S Suzanne to the three-quarters in 1:31.4. Then in the stretch, Gendron and Y A Jailhouse Jodi came after Y S Suzanne and Duguay and those two separated from the field and battled neck and neck, head and head to the wire with Y A Jailhouse Jodi getting up in the final strides to win by a neck in 2:02. Éclair Chocolat (Mario Charron) was third.
Sired by Andover Hall, it was the third win in five starts this year for Y A Jailhouse Jodi. She is trained by Michel Allard for co-owners Yves Sarrazin and Rene Allard of QC and paid $3.00 to win as the betting favourite.
Live racing resumes Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R with the second rounds of the Breeders Cup Series for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies, post time 1:30 p.m.
For a free race program and live video feed of the 3R races, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
(QJC)
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Hippodrome 3R.