Once again the three-year-old trotter Intouchable was untouchable as he remained undefeated in 2015 with his third straight win on Wednesday at the Hippodrome 3R.
Competing in the second round of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series, the gelded son of Angus Hall and driver Mario Charron held the field at bay once again, coasting to an easy victory by three and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.
Leaving from post five at the start, Intouchable bided his time working his way to the lead over a stubborn Second Revenge M A (Gaetan Lamy) by the opening quarter-mile in :29.1.
Once in command, Intouchable trotted with ease to the half-mile in :59.1. Then in the backstretch, Double Chance and driver Sylvain Lacaille made a first-over move, blowing by Second Revenge M A and getting in right behind Intouchable as they raced past the three-quarters in 1:30.
It was then that Charron lifted the lines and Intouchable responded by pulling away from the field in the stretch. Double Chance held for second-place with SOS Revange (Francine Morrissette) closing for third-place.
Trained by Maxime Velaye for owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, Que., Intouchable, who is a full brother to the Quebec champion Maximuscle, paid just $2.20 to win as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite.
SOS Harddrive put in the toughest mile of her career in the first race, first division of the Quebec-Bred Series and came away with not only a lifetime record of 2:01.4, but also upset the field at 16-1 odds, paying $35.60 to win.
Trained and driven to victory by Eric Gnocchini, SOS Harddrive had to win the hard way, racing first-over from before the half-mile pole.
The race began with Notrouble Dechafra (Stephane Brosseau) shooting to the early lead and he was passed by Meganou (Gaetan Lamy) by the opening quarter-mile in :30.1.
Already on the move on the outside before the half-mile in 1:01 was SOS Harddrive and Gnocchini, and they continued to work their way up into contention by the three-quarter-mile marker in 1:32.1.
As they started down the stretch, Gnocchini and SOS Harddrive had collared Meganou, and after battling down the stretch, won by one length with Meganou second and a late-closing Champagne Panic (Denis Filion) third.
The win was the second lifetime victory for the daughter of Taurus Dream and the time of 2:01.4 lowered her lifetime mark by more than three seconds. SOS Harddrive is owned by Monalisa Pagliericci of Standbridge Station, Que.
In other action, Armand Rousseau celebrated his first career training win as four-year-old trotting mare Kim Sorel and driver Denis St Pierre kept their rivals at bay in the seventh race. Owned by Claude Nadeau of Sorel-Tracy, Que., the daughter of Taurus Dream prevailed by half a length in 2:01 over favoured Force Naturelle and Simon Delisle. Kim Sorel was just the third starter for Rousseau, who is also from Sorel-Tracy.
Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday with the second round of the $250,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers. First race post time 1:30 p.m.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)