Despite earlier thunderstorms that left the racetrack "sloppy" with a two-second allowance, the young trotters competing in the third and final leg of the Future Stars Series at the Hippodrome 3R plowed forward.
In the first division, Kinnder Thinktwice and driver Stephane Brosseau went right to the early lead with Kovid N Lou sitting the pocket seat. They went by the quarter in :30.3 and the half in 1:02 before Timonier came first over and dropped behind Timonier. Favourite Auguste and driver Pascal Berube then went to the outside and kept going past the three-quarters in 1:33.3. Auguste cleared to the lead by the final turn and then held off Timonier to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:05. Kinnder Thinktwice was third.
It was the second win for Auguste, who is trained and co-owned by Dany Fontaine with the Gaetan Bono Stable and Largo Stables of Quebec City. The son of Bar Hopping paid $4.00 to win.
In the $10,000 sixth-race division for the trotting fillies, it was HP Run For Dan and driver Robert Shepherd sweeping three-wide at three-quarters to victory.
Apocalypse Alpha was first on the lead to the quarter in :31. But by the half mile in 1:03.2, favourite Kenogami Courage and driver Stephane Brosseau took command. Then at the three-quarters in 1:36.1, Shepherd took HP Run For Dan three wide and pressed the leader all the way around the final turn. As they came down the stretch, HP Run For Dan was much the best, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:07.2. Dont Treat Me Bad was second with Kenogami Courage third.
It was the maiden victory for HP Run For Dan. The filly is trained by Isabelle Darveau for owner-breeders Claude Hamel and Danielle Fournier-Levesque. The daughter of Alarm Detector paid $7.30 to win.
Four-time Quebec Champion Capteur De Reve and driver Stephane Brosseau were able to grind it out against the filly Stella Alpha, taking the lead in the backstretch and scoring a seven-length romp to capture the Preferred Handicap Trot in 2:01.
It was the fourth straight win for Capteur De Reve, who is trained by Maxime Velaye for the Provoquente Stable of Mirabel that bred and owns the eight-year-old gelding. Off as the favourite, the son of Muscle Mass paid $5 to win.
By the Preferred 2 & 3 Pace, the track was listed as fast with a one-second allowance. That was good enough for Platine Alpha and driver Jimmy Gagnon to go wire-to-wire at odds of 5-1.
After getting the early lead, Platine Alpha cut the mile to the quarter in :29 and was then challenged first over by favourite Coz Im Special and driver Michael Lagace. Those two drew away from the field, racing neck and neck to the half in :58.2. In the backstretch, Kiss Me Bad caught the leaders by the three-quarters in 1:27.4 and made a bold three-wide move, but parked around the final turn.
In the stretch, Platine Alpha found another gear and was able to pull away and win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1. Coz Im Special was second with Kiss Me Bad third.
It was the sixth win this year for Platine Alpha. She is trained by Sylvain Tremblay, who’s Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan bred and owns the mare. She paid $12.70 to win.
Track Notes: This was the last Friday card of the 2022 season. Pascal Berube, Stephane Brosseau and Robert Shepherd all had driving doubles.
On Sunday (Aug. 28), there are four divisions of the Future Stars Series third leg with two $7,500 divisions for the colts and two for the pacing fillies. Featured are series return winners Little Diamond, Kansas Panic, Godiva Shadow Girl, YS Poisson Davril and Pocahontas Du Lac. First-race post time is 12:00 p.m. (EDT).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.