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“I don’t think we will have a problem with anybody in the race."
Trainer Dany Fontaine really likes his two-year-old pacer, Mr Mach Jimmy...and what’s not to like?
Since switching from the Ontario Sires Stakes to the Hippodrome 3R, Mr Mach Jimmy in undefeated in his two Quebec-Bred Series starts. The son of Mach Three is the morning line favourite in Sunday’s final preliminary round at 3R, starting from the rail in the first race for driver Pascal Berube.
“I have had this colt since he was a yearling,” Fontaine said of the private purchase by Gaetan Bono from breeder Rejean Lassonde.
When did Fontaine know he would have a good racehorse this season?
“I first knew he would be good early in the spring,” Fontaine said, “He showed me some early speed and had a good attitude and I knew he would be a racehorse. When I would turn him on the training track he was always business. How fast he would go I did not know back then. But towards the summer he was one of the best on the farm.”
Flashing some good last halves and quarters at Mohawk Racetrack early on, Mr Mach Jimmy was facing stiff competition in the Ontario Sires Stakes. The best he could do was a third place finish, race timed in 1:55.4.
“In both his first two qualifying races,” Fontaine explained, “my horse came home in around :55 flat the last half, one last quarter in :26.3. I knew he was very good, but since he was eligible to the Quebec-Bred Series, I figured to bring him here and let him race, let him get brave and he has really come around.
Who does Dany Fontaine see as the best this Sunday in the Quebec-Bred Series?
“I think he is a little bit better than the other colts in the race,” Fontaine said. “He is in the top three at least. We will see more from him this Sunday and then the following week in the final.
“Last week his driver, Pascal Berube, came off the bike and told me all he had to do was ask him and he pulled away from the other colt.”
On Sunday Mr Mach Jimmy will face a tough challenge from both YS Artistic Fella and Sagawi.
In his debut last week at the Hippodrome 3R, YS Artistic Fella was an easy winner, wiring the field in 1:59. He starts from post four for driver Stephane Brosseau. Sagawi, who starts from post six, was second last week to YS Artistic Fella and the prior week won in the opening round of the series in 2:00.3. He will be driven by Francis Picard.
The third race, second colt division of the series on Sunday, is headed by Pudong Phil from post two for driver Clarke Steacy. Pudong Phil was a game second to Mr Mach Jimmy last week. The lone filly division in the fifth race has nine starters featuring HP Mercedes (post 9), Miss Babe Delight (post 1) and an entry from the Helene Filion Stable of Whysantanna (post 3) and Flysantanna (post 4).
Track Notes: Trainer Dany Fontaine is looking to start seven horses on the program at 3R on Sept. 6 for the $500,000 Quebec-Bred Finals Day and is moving his operation from Mohawk to Montreal this weekend to prepare for next week’s big day. He also trains Miss Babe Delight, KFB Amigo Cool, Tuscans Memory, Holiday Party, National Trace and Mach On The Beach, all of whom will be in the finals.
To view the entries for Sunday's card at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from QJC)