Another round of Elite and Distinction Stakes was contested on Sunday at Hippodrome de Montreal, with Lucky Josie garnering the largest paycheque of the afternoon.
In rein to Sylvain Filion, Lucky Josie won as she pleased in the lone $66,000 division of the Elite Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies. The Aces Up miss won by more than six lengths in 1:54.3.
Filion enjoyed a pocket trip for the majority of the mile with the Gilbert Hamel trainee, who took over command before the head of the lane and drew off by using a :28-second final quarter. Court Circuit was second and Bolero Tesoro rounded out the top three.
Bayama Farms Inc. of Saint Andre d'Argenteuil, QC owns the nine-time winner, who upped her bankroll to $173,325 with the win.
In other divisions of the Elite Stakes, M C Felix turned in a career-best clocking of 1:59.4 in the first of two splits for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The son of A Js Tycoon has manufactured a 7-1-1 record in 11 starts for owner Norm Dessureault of Coteau Du Lac, QC.
Dessureault guided the Noreen Paulin-trained colt to the victory over Aurevoir Gladiator and Mini Mel. The youngster has banked $42,145 to date.
Quater Bayama also earned a new lifetime record when he stopped the teletimer in 2:00.2 in the second division for trainer Jack Calce and driver Sylvain Filion. It was the third win in seven starts for the son of Armbro Nash.
The colt, who has stashed away $38,244 for Les Ecuries JYJ Inc. of Saint Andre D'Argenteuil, QC, knocked off Speculation, who was sent off as the 1-2 favourite, and My Leap Of Faith.
Flanagan Beauty righted the ship when she stepped to a career-best clocking of 1:56 in the first $25,000 division of the Elite Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies. After two consecutive sub-par performances, the daughter of Electric Stena rebounded as a 6-1 outsider in her assignment for owner Michel Flanagan of Repentigny, QC.
It was the seventh win in nine tries for the Pierre Touchette trainee, who was driven to the victory by Gilles Dion. She easily turned aside runner-up Kakafala and Tutu Hanover, who rounded out the top three finishers. The winner is just shy of $53,000 in earnings.
Culotte also took a new speed badge when she rallied to a 1:55.3 score in the second tilt for freshmen pacing fillies. The daughter of Real Artist gave the duo of trainer Jack Calce and driver Sylvain Filion their second stakes victory on the card.
Owned by Gestion Yves Blais of Montreal, QC, Culotte defeated Sharknfestedwaters and Winner Panic to bring her lifetime record to 3-3-0 in eight starts. Her bankroll now stands at $72,536.
There were a number of divisions of the Distinctions Stakes offered on Sunday, as well, with Charlie Drummond (1:56.4) and Majo Just Do It (1:57.1) finding their way to victory lane in their respective $11,000 assignments for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
SOS Daydreamer (2:03) and Alliance Duharas (2:00) got the better of the two-year-old trotting fillies they faced in their respective divisions, which offered purses of $12,000 and $13,200 respectively.
To view Sunday's results, click here.