The Light Speed and trainer-driver Guy Gagnon were in classic form Sunday (Aug. 1) at Hippodrome 3R, scoring the fastest of four second-round divisions of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacers.
Leaving from post five in the first division for the colts (race seven), Gagnon and The Light Speed waited in third place as Navalny (Francis Picard) and YS Do It Right (Stephane Brosseau) duelled to the opening quarter in :27.1. With YS Do It Right on the lead, The Light Speed blew by him to take command and lead the field to the half in :56.1.
Colonel Bayama (Justin Filion) came first-over with Chantee (Stephane Gendron) second-over, but they could not come close to The Light Speed as he led by six lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.4. The Light Speed had no bottom to him, as he breezed down the stretch for a two-length triumph in a blistering 1:54.2. Colonel Bayama held for second with Chantee third.
A three-year-old gelded son of Moon Beam, The Light Speed was bred and is owned by Michel Nolette. It was his fifth win in just six starts this year.
Cadillac Bayama ($2.10) was the overwhelming 1-9 favourite in the second colt division (race eight), and once trainer-driver Yves Filion got his colt by Sunshine Beach into gear, it was a walk in the park.
Putins Dart (Jocelyn Gendron) was first on the lead with Diamond Rock (Pascal Berube) grabbing the pocket seat to the opening quarter in :28.2. It was not until the 1:00.2 half until Filion moved Cadillac Bayama first-over with Super FM (Samuel Fillion) gladly taking the second-over trip.
Cadillac Bayama got into gear in the backstretch, blowing by Putins Dart and leading by five lengths at the three-quarters in 1:29.4. Cadillac Bayama then poured it on in the stretch, winning in a romp by seven open lengths in 1:57.1. Diamond Rock came on for second with Putins Dart third.
It was the second win in the series for Cadillac Bayama, who was bred and is owned by Bayama Farms.
A classic battle took place in the second division for three-year-old pacing fillies (race five).
Favourite Platine Alpha ($3.90) was first on the lead for driver Pascal Berube with Got Sexy Scars (Stephane Gendron) taking the two-hole spot. Also leaving for position was Celia Bayama and trainer-driver Yves Filion.
They raced together to the half mile in :56.3 as Filion rated Celia Bayama on the outside against pacesetter Platine Alpha, but was unable to collar the leader by the three-quarters in 1:27.1.
Then in the stretch drive, Got Sexy Scars found some racing room, but it was too little too late as Platine Alpha went on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Got Sexy Scars was second with Celia Bayama third.
It was the seventh win this year in 12 starts for Platine Alpha, making her the winningest horse at H3R in 2021. She is conditioned by the meets leading trainer Sylvain Tremblay, whose Alpha Stable owns and bred the filly.
In the first division for fillies (race three), a very determined Prettydiva ($4.30) and driver Guy Gagnon would not give way, holding off two strong challenges to win in 2:00.4.
At the start of the race, three horses all vied for the early lead. Ibiza Panic (Francis Picard) had the inside track with Prettydiva parked out and Clear The Credit (Samuel Fillion) three-wide.
Once they reached the opening quarter mile in :28.4, Prettydiva was in control with Clear The Credit getting the two-hole spot. At the half mile in :59.4, Plaisir (Stephane Gendron) came first-over with Mach N Cheese (Pascal Berube) second-over. In the backstretch, Berube took Mach N Cheese three-wide at the three-quarters and came after Prettydiva.
Prettydiva would not let Mach N Cheese pass her by as she went on to win by a half length in 2:00.4. Mach N Cheese was second with Clear The Credit third.
It was the maiden victory for Prettydiva, a daughter of Sportswriter, trained by Dany Fontaine and owned and bred by Sotirios Anastasopoulos.
Precieuse CC ($17.90) and driver Guy Gagnon let no one pass them in the Preferred Handicap Trot, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:59.2. It was the six-year-old Angus Hall mare’s first win of the season for the Jean Francois Maguire Stable.
Dreydl Hanover ($15.20) and driver Pascal Berube ground it out first-over in the Preferred Handicap Pace, wearing down pacesetter Littlebitaswagger (Francis Picard) and then holding off both Mickeymaksomespeed (Stephane Gendron) and D Gs De Vito (Jonathan Lachance) to win by a half length in 1:55.4.
It was the fifth win this year for Dreydl Hanover, who is trained by Francis Richard.
Guy Gagnon led all drivers with a triple. Both Samuel Fillion and Pascal Berube had driving doubles. Live racing returns to H3R next Friday (Aug. 6), featuring the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies. Post time is 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)