Undefeated filly takes opening round of series

The Hippodrome 3R (H3R) hosted the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting fillies and colts on Friday, July 19 and undefeated Chic Choc Rose (Royalty For Life) stole the harness racing show.

The overwhelming 1/9 race favorite in the 6^th race $10,000 division for two-year-old trotting fillies, Chic Choc Rose and trainer-driver Marie-Claude Auger would take no prisoners.

Making just her third career start, Chic Choc Rose went right out to the early lead and held the field at bay the entire mile. She cut fractions of :30.4, 1:02.2 and 1:33.4 before easily holding off the pocket-sitting Massive Emotion (Pascal Berube) to win by three open lengths in 2:03.3. Miche Charm (Denis St Pierre) was third.

Undefeated in three starts, it was a lifetime mark for Chic Choc Rose, who is trained and was bred by Auger, who co-owns the filly with Catheline Pelletier. She paid just $2.20 to win.

CHIC CHOC ROSE REPLAY

Due to just three horses entered, the $10,000 colt division of the Future Stars Series was held as a non-wagering event.

Im Just A Gigolo (Lookslikeachpndale), owned, bred, trained and driven by Jerome Lombart of Bromont, Que. was able to hold his two rivals at bay, leading the entire mile and winning by one length in 2:07.1. Muscle Du Haras (Marie-Claude Auger) was second with Mass Speed (Denis St Pierre) third.

Im Just A Gigolo happens to be a half-brother to the top trotting mare X O X O, who won Friday’s 9^th race $6,500 feature trot for Quebec-breds.

With driver Denis St Pierre in the sulky, X O X O (Angus Hall) led from the start, cutting fractions of :29.2, :59.4 and 1:29.3 with co-favorite Frido PV (Pascal Berube) sitting right on their back. At the top of the stretch, Frido PV came after X O X O and those two battled to the wire with X O X O pulling away at the finish to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:59.3. Ciel Bleu (Stephane Brosseau) was third.

It was the third win of the season for X O X O. The six-year-old mare is trained by Michel Allard for owner Danielle Henri and paid $5.90 to win.

X O X O REPLAY

Track Notes: Both Marie-Claude Auger and Robert Shepherd had driving doubles Friday. Live racing resumes Sunday, July 21, with the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing fillies and colts. First race post time Sunday is 12:00 noon. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club