Hudson Standardbreds has a strong hand for next weekend's $15,000 Lucien Bombardier Stake for two-year-old pacing fillies at Hippodrome de Quebec as three of its horses, all sired by Shanghai Phil, advanced to the final from the two $5,000 eliminations Saturday
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Hudson Standardbreds' Olivias Way, bet down to 3-5, won her elimination in wire-to-wire fashion by three lengths in 2:01.3 for trainer-driver Marcel Barrieau. F C Eclair Up (Jonathan Lachance), the longest shot on the board at odds of 37-1, rallied home from last and overcame interference to place over pocket-sitter One (Stephane Brosseau). La Belle Aventure (Pascal Berube) recovered from her break in stride to finish fourth.
Olivias Way paid $3.20 to win. She is now two-for-five in her career with $7,593 earned.
Hudson Standardbreds' entrymates Irenes Got It (Stephane Gendron) and Shanghai Sizzler (Marcel Barrieau) were second and third in the other elimination behind favourite Three For The Lady, a Lis Mara filly who rallied from fourth for a three-quarters-of-a-length score in 2:01.4 for driver Yves Filion. Amazing Step (Stephane Brosseau) was fourth.
Three For The Lady is co-owned by Brian Paquet of Quebec City and Buckeye Investments of Cornwall, Ont. The Justin Filion now trainee sports two wins, two seconds and one third on her six-race record with close to $10,000 earned. She returned $5.20 to her backers for the win.
The top four finishers in each elimination head to the final of the Lucien Bombardier, which will be held for the first time since 2008 next Saturday.
With only four horses entered, next weekend's Roger White Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies did not require eliminations. One of the entrants, Chantal PV, raced anyway in an overnight event at Hippodrome de Quebec on Saturday and was an easy four-length winner in 2:06. She'll face Star PV, La Neuvilloise and Day Dream in the Roger White next weekend.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hippodrome de Quebec.
(With files from Paul Delean)