It took five starts for HP Felicity to get the goose-egg off her back as the well-bred two-year-old trotting filly was an easy winner in her $8,000 division of the Future Stars Series at the Hippodrome 3R on Friday afternoon (August 6).
Competing against eight rivals including undefeated Stella Alpha, driver Jocelyn Gendron went right to the front with HP Felicity in the fourth race co-feature. Also leaving was Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube) from post seven and they were content with the two-hole trip to the opening quarter mile in :29.2.
Easing off a little at the half, HP Felicity led in 1:00.1 with Stella Alpha still in contention but the rest of the field was gapping the two leaders.
Those two opened up on the rest of the field in the backstretch by 13 lengths, going to the three-quarters in 1:31. It was then that Stella Alpha began to lag and HP Felicity was still full of trot, going on in the stretch to win by four lengths in 2:01.2. Stella Alpha was second with Cleveland Moneyka (Stephane Brosseau) third.
Sired by Muscle Mass out of the great mare Canaco Runner (by Promising Catch), HP Felicity earned her maiden victory for trainer Jean Tourigny. She was bred and is co-owned by Claude Hamel of Ayer’s Cliff, Que., and Michel Damphousse of Louiseville, Que.
HP Felicity paid $2.60 to win as the favourite and now has earnings this year of $37,180.
Royalty Beer romped to a six and one-quarter length triumph in the $8,000 colt division of the Future Stars Series.
With Kevin Maguire in the sulky for trainer Jean Francois Maguire, Royalty Beer started off the second race co-feature like he was shot out of a cannon, leading by more than six lengths at the opening quarter-mile in :30.1.
Maguire backed down the pace considerably, going to the half-mile in 1:03.1. Then, as the field started to close in, Royalty Beer kicked in another gear, leading by seven lengths at the three-quarters in 1:33.4. He then breezed home to win in 2:05. Stablemate Cleveland Massimo (Jean Maguire) was second with Kenogami Rebel (Stephane Brosseau) third.
Sired by Royalty For Life, Royalty Beer earned his second straight win in the series. He was bred by Kevin Maguire's Ecuries Maguire Inc. and is co-owned by Jean Francois Maguire.
Royalty Beer paid $2.30 to win as part of the favoured entry.
Track Notes: Pascal Berube added to his leading driver win total Friday with four victories on the day. Stephane Brosseau had a driving double. Sunday (post time 12:10 p.m.) will feature the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacers. There are three divisions, two for the colts and one for the fillies. Two-time O’Brien Award-winning Driver of the Year Louis-Philippe Roy is scheduled to drive Sunday. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)