When it comes to winning races at the Hippodrome 3R this past year, harness racing driver Steeven Genois had had quite a dry spell...until Tuesday evening that is, when he cut loose to win five of the 10 races on the program.
Genois, who had won just five races at 3R all year before he exploded on Tuesday, had not won a race between October 13, 2013 and May 18, 2014. That includes 28 straight losses and 23 more at Rideau Carlton Raceway.
His winning streak at 3R on Tuesday began in the third race with G Zattara ($13.00) in 1:58, which kicked off a four-race win streak including victories aboard Fortune Fever ($4.10) in 1:57.4 in race four, Ken U Sing ($10.20) in race five in 1:59.4 and Coraggio Hanover ($4.70) in race six in 1:57.3. Genois then took a break, but came back in the eighth race to win with Winoc Jimmy ($3.30) in 1:56.4.
Perhaps it was the freshening that Genois and his horses got at the local regional races. Corragio Hanover had won twice on consecutive days (Aug. 9 and 10) at the Hippodrome St. Aime des Lacs and then won again Tuesday night. Fortune Fever also won there and Fortune Fever also won twice in one day at Nouvelle on July 27 at the regionals.
“I thought when looking at the program before the races,” said Genois, “I was not thinking I was going to win five races, but I did have one good horse that I knew well and the others I was not so confident about. I have never won five races on a program in my life.”
Many know of Genois as he was the 2011 winner of Quebec’s oldest horse race (1910), the “Le 5 Milles” at St-Aimes with Treasure Island.
Following Genois' fifth win of the evening with Winoc Jimmy, 3R track announcer Guy LaFontaine asked, “Where is the party going to be tonight Steeven Genois?”
“Yes, I did hear the track announcer,” Genois said. “The announcer is very funny. But no I did not make it a party after [the] races.
“I want to say thank you to all owners who had confidence in me and gave me chance with their horses [Tuesday] night,” added Genois.
(With files from QJC)