The $7,000 featured pace for three-year-olds at the Hippodrome 3R (3R) on Sunday (Sept. 15) saw race favourite Ambitious Mind (Big Jim) and driver Francis Picard go down the road from post three en route to a three-quarter length triumph in a lifetime best mile of 1:55.3.
A gusty Dan Speed (Jessica Turenne) was parked out first-over from the opening quarter and was second while the pocket-sitting D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) was third.
The triumph was the second win in the last three starts for Ambitious Mind. Bred by Francis Picard, Ambitious Mind is trained by Dominique Picard and co-owned by Severine Picard, Martin Bilodeau and Claude Thibault. He paid $3.10 to win.
In the second race, a conditioned pace, 15-1 Foiled Dragon (Fear The Dragon) and driver Jocelyn Gendron ended the three-race winning streak of race favourite Royel Song (Simon Delisle) with a big upset victory.
Leaving from post five, Gendron sent Foiled Dragon right to the front and never looked back. Royel Song tried her best but could not keep up with Foiled Dragon, who wired the field in 1:57, beating Royel Song by three-quarters of a length. Butterfly Catcher (Antoine Desrochers) was third.
The final time was a new lifetime mark as the second win this year for Foiled Dragon. The three-year-old gelding is trained and co-owned by Marc Lacoursiere with Michel Berthelet. He paid $32.00 to win.
Sunday was National Caretaker Appreciation Day at 3R with the caretaker of every horse racing was given well-deserved recognition, a free lunch in the race paddock, and a special gift to the caretaker of every winning horse on the ten-race card, who was interviewed in the winner’s circle.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)