Stuart Sowerby needed just one win to score his 1,000th career victory as a driver. Sowerby had just one drive at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday and he got the job done.
Sowerby, 46, of Guelph, Ont., guided 1-9 race favourite Cesar Duharas from start to finish in the third race, which was the second division of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts.
El Bleu and driver Pierre Luc Roy grabbed the two-hole seat behind Cesar Duharas after the start, but was not able to make any use of it, as Cesar Duharas was the strong horse.
After leading the field to the quarter mile in :29.2, then the half in 1:01.3, Cesar Dunharas and Sowerby started to pull away from the field, leading by three lengths at the three-quarters in 1:31.4. Then in the stretch he won with ease by nine and one-half lengths in 2:01.3.
El Bleu was second with Clevisse (Guy Gagnon) third.
It was the third win in seven lifetime starts for Cesar Duharas, a colt by Muscle Massive, owned and bred by Haras De L Estrie, Inc. of Dunham. He paid $2.10 to win.
And for driver/trainer Stuart Sowerby, it was his 1,000th career win.
The second race kicked off the first of the two colt divisions for the Future Stars Series and saw SOS Turbo and driver Guy Gagnon leave well from the gate to take command to the opening quarter mile in :30 with Money Hill (Yves Filion) sitting the pocket trip.
As they came to the half mile in 1:01.1, Only For Justice and driver Stephane Brosseau was first-over and boxed in Money Hill, who also wanted to come out and go against SOS Turbo.
As they came off the third turn, Money Hill and Filion did come out as Only For Justice faded back to third place, but Money Hill was unable to overtake SOS Turbo past the three-quarters in 1:32.1.
On the final turn, Brosseau was able to come out again with Only For Justice, and it was then a three-horse race down the stretch. Only For Justice got up in the final strides to win by a neck over Money Hill with SOS Turbo third. The time of the mile was 2:03.2.
The win was a maiden-breaking victory for Only For Justice, who had yet to taste victory after four previous starts. The gelded son of Justice Hall is trained by Dany Fontaine for breeder/owner Gaetan Bono, Inc. of Montreal. He paid $8.00 to win.
The skies opened up with rain by the sixth race, the lone Future Stars division for fillies, with a two-second allowance over the ‘sloppy’ track.
It was Kinderunbelievable and driver Justin Filion who shot out to the front and by the opening quarter mile in :30 held a 15-length lead over the field as numerous breakers took place.
The 1-5 favourite, Kenogami Darling and driver Guy Gagnon, was blocked by breaking horses, but eventually found clearance and was sitting a distant second as Kinderunbelievable led the field to the half mile in 1:02.1.
Then in the backstretch, Gagnon and Kenogami Darling moved to the outside and collared Kinderunbelievable, taking the lead at the three-quarters in 1:34. From there Kenogami Darling went on to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 2:05.3. Kinderunbelievable was second with Claudi P V (Pascal Berube) third.
It was the third straight win for Kenogami Darling, a daughter of Justice Hall, who is trained by Dany Fontaine. She was bred by Jean Francois Reid of Amjou who co-owns the filly with Claude Reid of Jonquiere. She paid $2.50 to win.
Track Notes: The richest race card of the 2018 season at the Hippodrome 3R takes place next Sunday, September 9with the $480,000 finals of the Future Stars and Breeders Cup Series. Eight championship finals for two and three-year-old trotters and pacers.
Post time is 12:50 pm. For more information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at H3R, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)