Siblings rarely compete against each other on the racetrack. Finishing 1-2 is even rarer.
It happened twice last month in the preferred trotting class at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, with sisters Choo Choo Blue and Precieuse CC each taking a turn in the winner's circle.
Precieuse CC after winning on August 8
Nobody was happier with that turn of events than Guillaume Cayer-Richard.
He's the current owner of their dam, Marion Chocolata, a 13-year-old Chocolatier mare that he picked up two years ago for $12,000 after she'd failed to catch in three consecutive breeding seasons for previous owner Kevin Maguire.
Choo Choo Blue defeating Precieuse CC on August 27
Precieuse CC, a six-year-old, is approaching $150,000 in career winnings, with a mark of 1:57. Choo Choo Blue, age five, has almost $50,000 made and a mark of 1:58. Sired by Angus Hall, they were bred by the owner before Maguire, Raymond Larose of St-Henri-de-Levis, Quebec. Marion Chocolata had produced another good one before them, Miss Larose, who had a mark of 1:52.3.
"It was a longshot, but I thought this could turn out good. She'd been a super producer," Cayer-Richard said.
Marion Chocolata got in foal at first asking for him, and her chocolate-coloured Muscle Mass filly, now named Cleveland Hershey, was born this year. If all goes as planned, she'll sell at auction as a yearling.
In the meantime, he'd love to see more duels and 1-2 finishes for Precieuse CC and Choo Choo Blue.
"People are talking about it, they're getting results, it's adding value to my filly," he said.
Cayer-Richard, 43, has owned Standardbreds for more than two decades, but is still relatively new to commercial breeding with five mares at his Ecuries Cleveland (named for the Quebec town where it's situated). He'd worked as a mortgage representative for a large financial institution until last week, when he decided to focus on various business interests. His partner Melissa Beaulieu helps run the breeding operation, which is off to a strong start.
In 2020, the farm tested the U.S. market and got $90,000 (U.S.) for an Always B Miki filly at the Harrisburg sale. Two other babies, Cleveland Moneyka and Cleveland Massimo, have made it into the Coupe des Eleveurs finals for two-year-olds at Hippodrome 3R in September. The farm has three yearlings to sell this year.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)