The front end was the place to be in the co-feature pace and trot during the Friday, Sept. 1 card of harness racing at Hippodrome 3R.
In fourth race feature pace, the oldest competitor in the field, 13-year-old Windsun Cheyenne, left from post one for driver Pascal Berube and di not let anyone pass them by.
With Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) leaving from post eight and grabbing the two-hole trip, Windsun Cheyenne cut fractions of :28.1, :59.1 and 1:29 as CL Big Beach (Joel Gagnon) tried coming first-over to no avail.
By the top of the stretch, Windsun Cheyenne was in full control and went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:57.4. Race favourite Lucky Leonard (Stephane Brosseau) finished second with Outlaw Turn N Burn third.
It was the fourth win on the year for Windsun Cheyenne. The son of Cams Card Shark is trained and owned by Gina Bragagnolo of Lavaltrie, Que. He paid $8.10 to win.
In the fifth race feature trot, it was 7-1 Muscles Forever and driver Sylvain Fontaine (pictured above) who were able to wire the field.
With Sammy Justice (Jocelyn Gendron) getting the two-hole trip, Muscles Forever cut fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.2 before My Mini Miracle (Simon Delisle) came first-over with Timonier (Pascal Berube) getting the second-over cover.
Approaching the three-quarters, Berube tipped Timonier three-wide and after tripping the teletimer in 1:30.2, Muscles Forever had a new foe to contend with.
As they raced down the stretch, Timonier tried as he might, but could not collar Muscles Forever, who won by three-quarters of a length in 2:01. Sammy Justice was third.
It was the third win this season for Muscles Forever. The six-year-old Muscle Mass gelding is trained by Marc Lemay for owner Gestion Marc Lemay Inc. of Quebec, Que. He paid $16.20 to win.
Pascal Berube had the hot hands Friday winning four races on the card. Robert Shepherd had a driving double and David Pilon had a training double.
Live harness racing resumes at 3R on Sunday at 12 noon with a 10-race program headlined by two Preferred pacing events, one for the fillies & mares and one for the horses.
To view the results from Friday's card at 3R, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)