The end of the 2011 meet at Hippodrome de Quebec could be the start of good things for driver-trainer Steeven Genois
.
"It was an incredible feeling…indescribable. This was a childhood dream. It's a prestigious race and I'm just starting my career," said Genois, who grew up in Quebec City and remembers watching the five-mile race trackside from the time he was eight or nine years old.
Genois piloted nine-year-old Treasure Planet to a 22-1 upset in the race. The pair took the lead with a bold move from ninth place after the seventh of 10 laps. They relinquished the lead to Lexilowguy and driver Mario Charron for one lap, but then reclaiming it before coasting home to win by four lengths.
It was Genois' 18th career victory as a driver. He'd never before won a race with a purse as large as $15,000.
Making it even sweeter was the fact Treasure Planet belongs to his partner, Melanie Boulianne. She bought him last year for $4,500.
Genois said they got an inkling he'd like the race from the way he contested mile-and-a-half events on the regional circuit. "He was always better the third time around."
It was the same story in Le 5 Milles.
"The further we went, the happier he got," Genois said. "My idea was to wait as long as possible at the back, but he started to get restless, pulling harder with each lap, so I finally moved him out. I wanted to position him about fourth but he wouldn't go in so we took the lead. That settled him."
Genois raced once before in Le 5 Milles, in 2009, but his horse didn't finish.
"I was at Sudbury Downs last year so I missed it," he said.
With the Quebec meet now concluded, he's headed to Scarborough Downs with his seven-horse stable to finish the year. Treasure Planet, for his part, is getting a well-deserved three-week rest.
(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)