Fans at Hippodrome de Montreal were treated to a stakes heavy program on Sunday afternoon, as the Quebec oval rolled out the red carpet for an assortment of two and three-year-old stars.
Big Bam Ray and Paradise Bayama prevailed in their respective $40,000 Elite divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Paradise Bayama did most of the road work en route to a 1:54.2 score for trainer Gilbert Hamel and driver Sylvain Filion. The son of Aces Up, who is owned by Bayama Farms Inc. and Marc Andre Gagnon, held on to win by a nose over En Katimini. Paco Dery was third.
It was the second win of the season and the fifth lifetime score for the career winner of $50,350.
Big Bam Ray sprinted to a 1:53.3 decision in the second split for trainer/driver Daniel Martin. The Yankee Cam colt was one length better than runner-up Hitouch Emotion. Bob J L rounded out the top three.
Martin shares ownership on the winner of $187,700 with partners Gestion Mario Audet Inc., Brian Paquet and Jennifer Walker. The victory was the pacer's fourth of the season and the 10th of his career.
Up Winning took the first of two Elite divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He tripped the teletimer in a career-best clocking of 1:56.3 for trainer/driver Dustin Jones.
The son of Aces Up, who is owned by Ecurie Synergie, defeated Ultra Jimmy and Flash Beauty A L. The rookie has put together a 2-3-0 record and a $34,200 bankroll in six starts.
Onyx V A drew off to win the other division in going away fashion despite being parked every step of the mile. The son of Electric Stena stopped the clock in 1:56.4 en route to defeating Pieraz and Quincy Bayama.
Owned by Andre Larocque and Violine Plante, the colt improved to 3-2-2 in eight starts with the win. The $17,500 payday lifted his earnings to $36,151.
Easter Bonnet snapped a string of second-place finishes to take the first of two $25,000 Elite divisions for the two-year-old trotting fillies. Guy Gagnon guided the Richard Moreau-trained daughter of Berndt Hanover to the 1:58.4 win over Yursa Hanover and Alliance Duharas.
Ecuries Guy Gagnon Inc. and Ecurie Richard Moreau Inc. hold the papers on the two-time winner, who bumped her bankroll to $129,856 with the winning effort.
Jojo Bingbing reigned supreme in the second split, winning in a time of 2:00 for trainer/driver Marcel Barrieau. The Armbro Nash miss, who races for owners Conrad Leber and Richard Karper, defeated Serenas Genie and Montanabarbygirl.
Sent off as the odds-on favourite, Jojo Bingbing improved to 3-3-0 in seven starts while pushing her lifetime earnings to $37,900.
There were also three $20,000 Distinction divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies contested on the Sunday afternoon program, with Noblesse (1:59.4), C L Angy Winner (2:00) and Altesse (2:00) taking their respective splits.
To view Sunday's results, click here.