A 27-year-old track record was rewritten on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 24) by 25-1 longshot winner YS Sensationalcity at Hippodrome 3R. The three-year-old pacing filly broke the oldest track record on the books at 3R.
In the $5,000 Preferred Pace for fillies and mares, You Rock Girl Kir (Jocelyn Gendron) was the early leader then JKs Rollin Baby (Francis Picard) took over at the first quarter in :27.2.
Heading to the half-mile marker, Pascal Berube went first-over with Ladycorona followed by Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau) second-over and YS Sensationalcity with catch-driver William Roy third-over. The half went in :56.3.
Racing down the backstretch, Ladycorona took the lead leaving Celia Bayama first-over with YS Sensationalcity second-over at the three-quarters in 1:26.
Around the final turn, YS Sensationalcity fanned three-wide and, with a burst of speed down the stretch for Roy, she went by to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55 with Celia Bayama second and Ladycorona third.
The time of the mile was a new lifetime mark for YS Sensationalcity and bested the previous track record for three-year-old pacing fillies of 1:55.1 set by Canaco Motion back on Sept. 24, 1996.
The Keystone Velocity-Sensationalgabby A filly earned her sixth win of the year from 15 starts for trainer Michel Allard, who co-owns with Kapildeo Singh.
YS Sensationalcity returned $53.80 for the upset win.
Quebec champion two-year-old pacer Boomboom Tonight lowered the boom on his eight rivals in easily winning the $6,000 feature race for driver Marc Belanger.
In the race, D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) scooted out to the early lead from the inside, but Boomboom Tonight also left from the far outside in post eight and took over the lead before the first quarter in :29.2.
Boomboom Tonight opened up a nine-length lead to the half-mile marker in :59. As the field seemingly closed the margin on Boomboom Tonight in the backstretch, Dream Choice (Pascal Berube) started up first-over but was unable to gain on the leader as he sped by the three-quarters in 1:29.1.
Heading down the stretch, Belanger breezed home with Boomboom Tonight, winning by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. D Gs Lorijeanne was second with Shes Rock (Robert Shepherd) back in third.
Boomboom Tonight earned his fourth straight victory at 3R and is now five-for-seven in his career. The homebred Sportswriter-Rapid Tonight gelding is owned and trained by Elisabeth Pothier.
He paid $2.70 to win as the wagering favourite.
Trainers David Pilon, Andre Champagne, Michel Allard and Nancy Auger each sent out a pair of winners on Sunday's 10-race card. Robert Shepherd and William Roy both had driving doubles.
Live racing resumes at 3R next Friday, Sept. 29 with a special post time of 3 p.m. A reminder that there are two new $60,000 stakes races, the Brian Paquet Memorials, that will be held on Sunday, Oct. 1. Both memorials are for three-year-old and older pacers -- one division for the horses and one division for the fillies and mares. Preference will be given to Quebec-bred horses, then Quebec-owned horses and then it becomes open to any horses from Canada or the USA. Each division will feature just eight starters. The entry box for the Oct. 1 card closes Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. The race office can be reached to enter horses or answer questions about the new stakes races by calling 819-374-6734 ext. 203.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)