Mickeymaksomespeed was the most impressive winner at Hippodrome 3R Sunday (Aug. 9), winning one of the four opening round divisions of the Breeders Trophy Series.
The series features three rounds of preliminary competition with the $65,000 finals for the top eight point earners on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The favourite in the first of four divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Mickeymaksomespeed did not disappoint for driver Steeven Genois. After being parked out to the opening quarter by Shanghaigold (Alain Filion), Mickeymaksomespeed went on to wire the field.
Cutting fractions of :56.4 to the half and 1:25.3 to the three-quarters, Mickeymaksomespeed breezed home to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Eclat De Rire (Stephane Gendron) was second with Brutus Bayama (Tyler Jones) third.
It was the sixth win in just seven starts this year for Mickeymaksomespeed. The homebred son of Mickey Hanover is trained and owned by Michel Allard of Saint-Espirt and paid $3.20 to win.
In the second division, Whitecookie held the field at bay from the start for trainer-driver Marie Claude Auger as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite.
The gelded son of Windfall Blue Chip shot out to the early lead, cutting fractions of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:28 before pulling away from the field to win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4. HP I Got Toplay (David Pilon) was second with Retour Au Jeu (Stephane Gendron) third.
It was the second win this year for Whitecookie, who is co-owned by Auger with Pierre Marc Longpre and paid just $2.10 to win.
The fastest division for the fillies was in the third race, where Acaena De Chakrika and Stephane Brosseau led from start to finish in 1:57 and won by 1-1/4 lengths over the pocket-sitting Zar E IP (Pascal Berube). Lotus Sena (Stephane Gendron) was third.
It was a lifetime mark and the first win in nine starts this year for Acaena De Chakrika, a filly by Sunshine Beach trained by Dany Fontaine for breeder-owner Diane Lepine. She paid $3.90 to win.
The opening round for the fillies started in the first race, where Godiva Lovely Lady and driver Stephane Brosseau scored an 8-1 upset.
Godiva Lovely Lady swept three-wide on the final turn and collared pacesetter YS Big Girl (Carl Duguay) and first-over Quoi (Stephane Gendron) to win by two lengths in 2:00. Quoi was second with Perfect Romi (Sylvain Lacaille) third. The 1-5 favourite On Route broke at the start of the race.
It was the first career win for Godiva Lovely Lady, a daughter of Badlands Hanover trained by Lyne Asselin for breeder-owner Raymond Larose. Godiva Lovely Lady paid $18.90 to win.
The highest win price of the 2020 season took place in the second race, when Gutsy Greg and driver-trainer Joel Gagnon wired the field at 44-1 to defeat 60-1 The Platinum Guy by a head. Gusty Greg paid $91.20 to win.
Stakes action at H3R continues next weekend with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotters on Friday (Aug. 14). Next Sunday (Aug. 16) is the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacers. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)