Despite being hung on the outside for half a mile, Wild Dream Men and trainer/driver Guy Gagnon stayed the course and kept their unbeaten streak alive in winning at Hippodrome 3R on Friday (Aug. 11) afternoon.
Competing in the $10,000 second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Wild Dream Men did not have things go his way from the start.
It was Vol De Banque and driver/trainer Claude Beausoleil who were first on the lead with race favourite Wild Dream Men sitting in second place. Gagnon wanted the lead and tried to get it, but was denied by Vol De Banque and Beausoleil, who forced Wild Dream Men back into the two-hole past the first quarter in :30.2.
As they came to the half-mile, Vol De Banque was in control in 1:02.4, but Gagnon still had his sights set on Wild Dream Men leading the field and they came back to challenge again in the backstretch.
A battle for control ensued and by the three-quarters in 1:32.4, Wild Dream Men finally cleared Vol De Banque. On the final turn, Drinklikehenry and William Roy also entered the picture as they were three-wide and gaining ground.
Down the stretch to the wire, Gagnon had Wild Dream Men in full stride and they went on to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 2:03.2. Drinklikehenry was second with Vol De Banque third.
Now undefeated in his first two starts, Wild Dream Men’s 2:03.2 triumph was a new lifetime mark. The Kadabra-Cersei Hanover gelding is owned by Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel. He paid $2.80 to win.
Also a repeat winner in the Future Stars Series, Kenogami Queen, who actually made a break at the start of her $10,000 division for the two-year-old trotting fillies, and was able to rebound to win it all.
The race got underway with Sensi Amnesia and trainer/driver Marie-Claude Auger taking the early lead while Kenogami Queen and driver Stephanie Brosseau were fourth after recovering from an early break at the start.
Then just at the first quarter in :31.3, Sensi Amnesia went off-stride on the lead and that allowed JD Beauty and Robert Shepherd to take the lead from the pocket and then HP Agathe, with Pascal Berube, went on the outside to take command and lead the field to the half-mile in 1:03.3.
When the field reached the backstretch, Brosseau made his move with Kenogami Queen but they could not pass by HP Agathe until past the three-quarters in 1:34.4.
From there, Kenogami Queen was home free, winning by one length in 2:05.2. JD Beauty was second with Sensi Amnesia finishing third.
It was the second straight win for Kenogami Queen, who is now two-for-three to start her career. The Wheeling N Dealin-Kenogami Darling filly is trained by Jean-Francois Reid, who bred the filly with Marie Claude Reid and they co-own her with Mario Menard. Kenogami Queen paid $2.70 to win.
Live harness racing resumes at 3R on Sunday, Aug. 13, with the program featuring the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies. There will be one $10,000 division for the colts and two $7,500 divisions for the fillies. First race post time Sunday is 12 noon. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club; Photo of Wild Dream Men winning on July 28)