Hippodrome 3R featured a 15-race program on Friday (Aug. 12) with seven divisions of the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotters and pacers. And it was a day for the longshots to come in.
In the $10,000 fifth race for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, 17-1 upsetter Auguste and driver Pascal Berube left from post seven in the nine-horse field and they were able to clear to the lead over Illusioniste Gale (Jerome Lombart). Despite two first-over challenges, the Bar Hopping-Ocean Mist Dynasty gelding was able to wire the field in 2:02, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. Kinnder Thinktwice (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Illusioniste Gale third.
It was the maiden victory for Auguste after five starts. He is trained and co-owned by Dany Fontaine with Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. and breeder Ecurie Largo Inc. Auguste returned $36.50 for the upset.
In the $10,000 ninth race for two-year-old trotting fillies, another longshot, Tite Beer En Mass, with Kevin Maguire driving, was able to pull off the upset at odds of 8-1.
The 1-5 favourite, Apocalypse Alpha and driver Pascal Berube, shot to the early lead, was up by seven lengths going to the half-mile with Dont Treat Me Bad (Herve Kirouac Jr.) sitting the pocket seat far back. Still leading after the three-quarters, Apocalypse Alpha came wide off the final turn and came to a stop. That allowed Dont Treat Me Bad to have a slim lead until Tite Beer En Mass and Maguire were able to win by a head in 2:06.1. HP Run For Dan (Robert Shepherd) was third.
It was the first pari-mutuel win in two starts for Tite Beer En Mass (pictured above). The homebred Muscle Mass-Beer Maggs filly is trained by Jean-Francois Maguire for Ecuries Maguires Inc. She paid $18.10 to win.
The fourth race, first $7,500 division for two-year-old pacing colts saw 8-1 shot Kansas Panic and driver Francis Picard sweep three-wide at the three-quarters, collar pacesetter Albert Alpha (Pascal Berube) and, after the two battled down the stretch, Kansas Panic picked up the win, prevailing by a neck in 2:02.1. Albert Alpha was second with favourite Maximus GB (Stephane Brosseau) third.
It was the first pari-mutuel win for Kansas Panic. The Sunshine Beach-Drift Panic gelding is trained by Francis Richard for owner and breeder Brian Paquet of Quebec City. He paid $19.40 to win.
A favourite finally emerged in eighth race, second division for pacing colts as Little Diamond and driver William Roy led from start to finish for his third straight win. The bettors' second choice covered the mile in 2:01.1, winning by 1-1/2 lengths and tying his lifetime mark. The pocket-sitting Fablo (Samuel Fillion) was second with favoured YS Cheddar Wheel (Robert Shepherd) third.
Trained by Guy Roy for owner/breeder Richard Desrosiers of Massueville Que., Little Diamond is now three-for-six. The Sportswriter-C Lulu Amaze Me colt paid $4.50 to win.
There were three $6,500 divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies and a real shocker took place in the sixth race, first division as the unbeaten Godiva Shadow Girl (Robert Shepherd) saw her win streak end at three straight.
It was the 4-1 shot Double Gum and driver Guy Gagnon who cut the mile and never looked back, winning with ease by nearly two lengths in 1:58.3. YS Sensationalcity (Kiwon Waldron) finished second. Godiva Shadow Girl was parked first-over and finished third.
It was the first pari-mutuel victory in four starts for Double Gum, who is trained and owned by Pierre Marc Longpre of Chelsea, Que. The Shadow Play-Taylor B Swift filly paid $10.10 to win.
The 11th race, second division for the pacing fillies went to YS Poisson Davril and the victory completed Kiwon Waldron's first driving triple at 3R.
Leading from the start, Waldron and YS Poisson Davril toyed with the field, backing off the pace then speeding up when anyone got near them. They went on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:01.3. Nightjet (Guy Gagnon) was second with Senorita I Am (Francis Picard) third.
It was the first pari-mutuel win for two-time starter YS Poisson Davril, who is trained by Yannick Martel. The Sportswriter filly out of Kiss Baby Kiss is owned and bred by Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation, Que. She paid $8.80 to win as the 7-2 second choice.
Pocahontas Du Lac was sent off at the overwhelming 1-5 race favourite in the 13th race, final division of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing fillies and she raced just as the odds board dictated.
Driver Pierre-Luc Roy sent the Betterthancheddar-Sheissuchadream filly to front and never looked back, holding the field at bay the entire mile and winning by 6-3/4 lengths in 2:01.3. The pocket-sitting HP Space Oddity (Stephane Brosseau) was second with River Sena (Mario Lachance) third.
It was the second straight win and third from seven career starts for Pocahontas Du Lac. She is trained by Francis Richard for breeder Louis-Philippe Roy and co-owners Pierre-Luc Roy, Maude Larouche and Jean Allaire. She paid $2.50 to win.
In non-stakes action, Ecurie Provoquante homebred Capteur De Reve ($3.50) earned his third straight victory in the $6,500 Preferred 2 & 3 Handicap Trot, prevailing in his 100th career start by a quarter of a length over Royalty Beer in 1:58.2 for driver Samuel Fillion and trainer Maxime Velaye. Askmysecretary ($23.90) pulled off a 10-1 upset over favourite Coz Im Special in the distaff pace, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3 with Pascal Berube in the bike for trainer Yves Tessier and owners Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire.
Track Notes: Kiwon Waldron led all drivers with a triple while Pascal Berube, Samuel Fillion and Stephane Brosseau each had driving doubles. For the trainers, both Francis Richard and Jean-Francois Maguire had a double. There will be no racing this Sunday, Aug. 14 as it is the final weekend of the Grand Prix auto racing in Trois-Rivieres. Live racing will resume next Friday, Aug. 19.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)