For the second straight week, Only For Justice (Justice Hall) and driver Francis Picard proved they are the best trotting duo at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R), this time with a resounding triumph in the $8,500 feature Friday for Quebec-bred older trotters.
![Only For Justice, Celia Bayama too tough at H3R 1](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/6-21-24-Only-For-Justice-and-driver-Francis-Picard-winning-at-H3R-thephotodesk.ca_.jpg)
The 6thĀ race saw Orlyās Pride (Robert Shepherd) trot away from the starting gate to take early command of the race and lead the field to the first quarter in :30.1. Sitting the two-hole was Frido PV (Pascal Berube) after Thatās Hooligan (Marie-Claude Auger) made a costly break trying to brush to the lead.
Moving to the half mile in :59.4, Orlys Pride was comfortable on the lead, but coming first-over was the 1/5 race favorite Only For Justice. Tried as they might, Orlys Pride parked out Only For Justice until the three-quarters was reached in 1:29.2 as Only For Justice cleared to the lead going into the final turn.
With a two length advantage, Only For Justice kept it going down the stretch, winning by three lengths in 1:59. Orlys Pride was second with Frido PV third.
ONLY FOR JUSTICE REPLAY
It was the second win in four starts this year for Only For Justice. The eight-year-old gelding is trained by Linda Belanger for Ecurie Gaetan Bono, Inc. of Laval, Que. and paid $2.70 to win.
In the 3rd race $4,000 feature pace for fillies and mares, it was all Celia Bayama (Bettors Delight) and driver Stephane Brosseau for the second week in a row.
![Only For Justice, Celia Bayama too tough at H3R 2](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/6-21-24-Celia-Bayama-and-driver-Stephane-Brosseau-winning-at-H3R-thephotodesk.ca_.jpg)
Last week Celia Bayama and Brosseau wired the field in 1:57.3 by two and three-quarter lengths, this week the margin was bigger, and the time of the race was faster.
Leaving from post five, 1/9 race favorite Celia Bayama held the field at bay from the very starts, leading by two lengths to the opening quarter in :28.4, the half mile in :59.1 and three-quarters in 1:28.
Once on the final turn, Brosseau let Celia Bayama have her head and she tore away down the stretch to win by four and one-quarter lengths in 1:56.3. Jimbelina (Marie-Claude Auger) was second with Shanghaibluebeach (Robert Shepherd) third.
CELIA BAYAMA REPLAY
Trained by Jack Reid, Celia Bayama, a six-year-old mare, is co-owned by Jack Reid with Marie-Claude Reid and Mario Menard. She paid $2.30 to win.
Track Notes:Ā Stephane Brosseau had a driving double and Serge Nadeau a training double. The Quebec Regional Fair Circuit gets underway Saturday afternoon (June 22) atĀ St-Joseph de Lepage starting at 1:00 pm. Making a surprise visit and driving in some of the fair races will be three-time OāBrien award winner, Louis-Philippe Roy. Live racing resumes on Sunday (June 23) with first race post time at 12:00 noon. For more information and free race program, visit here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey ClubĀ