Two freshman trotters, Panamas Boy and Tuscans Memory, locked horns once again at the Hippodrome 3R on Wednesday in the second round of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series for two-year-old trotting colts. This time around Panamas Boy emerged the winner.
Last week it was Tuscans Memory’s turn to shine, but racing strategy changed drastically Wednesday night.
The fourth race, second division of the series saw SOS Chico and driver Jocelyn Gendron shoot out to the lead from the outside seven post with Panamas Boy and Stephane Brosseau grabbing the pocket seat. They flew to the opening quarter mile in a sharp :29.2. But flying on the outside first-over was KFB Amigo Cool with Guy Gagnon and they took command of the race to the half-mile in 1:01.2.
Then as Tuscans Memory and Pascal Berube started up first-over, KFB Amgo Cool went off-stride. SOS Chico then inherited the lead, but a persistent Tuscans Memory kept up the challenge to the three-quarters in 1:32.4. And all the while there was Brosseau and Panamas Boy waiting patiently in third-place on the rail.
On the final turn, SOS Chico could not stand the pace and went off-stride, and Brosseau was able to maintain their inside position, keeping Tuscans Memory parked out.
Those two then went stride-for-stride until the stretch drive when Panamas Boy dug in and held off Tuscans Memory to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:02.4. Eau Naturelle (Mario Charron) was third.
The win was the second in four starts for Panamas Boy. The son of Crazed is trained by Jacques DuPont for owner/breeder Gestion C Levesque 2005 Inc. of Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. He paid $5.20 to win.
The first race division of the series saw Sass and driver Clarke Steacy end his maiden status with a 2:03.1 victory from post eight.
Holiday Party (Pascal Berube) was stung early getting the lead away from Red Monster (Guy Gagnon) by the opening quarter-mile in a quick :29. Then Defi Normand (Pierre Bovay) came first-over and gave outside cover to Sass after the half-mile in 1:01.3.
In the backstretch, Defi Normand collared Holiday Party and took the lead away from that foe before the three-quarters in 1:33.2. Sass was still strong on the outside with Red Monster lurking in the shadows.
Then in the stretch, Sass was the strong horse, going on to win by one and one-quarter lengths with Defi Normand second and Red Monster third.
Trained by Mark Steacy, the Kadabra colt was bred and is owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que. He paid $3.60 to win.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)