On Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R, the track plays host to the second round of the $450,000 Breeders Cup Series for three-year-olds. Both colt and filly pacers headline the race card.
There is a newcomer on the scene who could very well rattle some cages and his name is Xpert Bayama.
This gelded son of Up The Credit hails from Yves Filion’s Bayama Farms in Saint-Andre-D’Argenteuil, QC. The homebred was unraced at age two and makes his first start ever on a half mile track Sunday.
“This colt was very anemic as a two-year-old,” said Yves Filion, “so I decided not to race him last year and I think he is better now at three because of it.”
It is never an easy task to switch from racing on the big ovals at Mohawk and Woodbine Racecourses in Ontario, but that is what Xpert Bayama is going to try and accomplish.
“Going on a half mile track should not be a problem for him.” Filion added. “My training track is 5/8th of a mile with a 5/8th turn and a half mile turn. He will do well at 3R.”
The job is not made easier as Xpert Bayama drew the far outside post eight for his 3R debut in the eighth race second division for colts.
He comes to 3R from Mohawk Raceway where he was seventh last week in the Ontario Sire Stakes, but showed great early speed from post seven, getting to the front by the opening quarter mile in :26.3, but failed to hold up on the front end and finished seventh.
In his prior start, Xpert Bayama was feeling the best of his career as he scored a lifetime record in 1:51.1. He has been driven exclusively for Yves Filion, by his son, Sylvain.
Coming into 3R, Xpert Bayama will be driven by Yves, who has more experience racing then most everyone else in the race and he will be inducted in early August into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Thus if anyone can get Xpert Bayama to overcome post eight and handle the half mile turns for the first time, it will be Yves Filion.
“He (Xpert Bayama) is a good horse,” Filion explained. “Not good enough for the Gold Circuit in Ontario but he showed already he can win in the Grassroots. This series at 3R is also perfect for him. I will try and race him in both and hope for the best.
“Rain or shine tomorrow, my colt should do very well.” Filion said.
The Hippodrome 3R has some of the best turns of any half mile track in harness racing and if Xpert Bayama and Filion can handle them from post eight, they will then have to contend with rivals Dance With Joe and Mr Mach Jimmy.
Dance With Joe was very impressive in his maiden victory last week, taking an opening round of the Breeders Cup Series in 1:58.2 and starts alongside Xpert Bayama from post seven for driver Mario Baillargeon.
Mr Mach Jimmy was last year’s series final winner and despite being winless in six starts this season, was a game second last week in the opening round. He starts from post six and will again by driven by Pascal Berube.
The first colt division takes place in the seventh race when the big favourite, HP Patriote, starts from post eight for driver Louis-Philippe Roy. Last week the son of Vintage Master blew the field away in the backstretch and won with ease in 1:56.
The two filly divisions are each headlined by opening round return winners. HP Sissy (post 4) in the third race won in a romp in 1:56.1 while last year’s champion, Miss Babe Delight (post 2) heads the fourth race and comes off her first win of the year in 1:58.1.
Post time Sunday is 1:30 p.m. For a free race program and live video feed of the race card, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
(QJC)