Kinnder Thinktwice impressive in series opener

Trois-Rivieres, QC – The Hippodrome 3R hosted the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotters Friday afternoon, July 22, and harness racing fans saw two $10,000 divisions, one for the colts and one for the fillies.

This was the first of three preliminary rounds in the series leading towards the top eight point earnings returning to H3R on Sunday, September 11 for their respective $55,000 finals.

In the $10,000 4th race colt division of the Future Stars Series, Kinnder Thinktwice (Wheeling N Dealin – Majestic Joy) showed he is ready to race as well as his four brother and sisters (three of which are Quebec Champions).

Starting from post four, driver Stephane Brosseau left with Kinnder Thinktwice and led the field to the first quarter mile in :30.4 with Capteur De Rire (Guy Corbeil) sitting second.

Kinnder Thinktwice then led the field the rest of the mile race, holding off a persistent first-over Auguste (Pascal Berube) by a half-length in 2:02.3. C Un Bon Deal (Francis Picard) was third.

KINNDER THINKTWICE REPLAY

It was the first pari-mutuel start for Kinnder Thinktwice. He was the race favorite and paid $2.90 to win. He was bred and is owned and trained by Denitza Petrova of Melbourne.

In the 6th race $10,000 division for the fillies, Kenogami Courage (Lookslikeachpndale) notched her second win in four starts with an easy 2:05 triumph over Apocalypse Alpha (Pascal Berube) with BBC News (Marc Belanger) third.

Apocalypse Alpha shot to the early lead, up by as much as six lengths by the first quarter with Kenogami Courage and driver Stephane Brosseau far back in second place.

Once they reached the half mile, Kenogami Courage caught up to Apocalypse Alpha and when the leader became rough gaited in the backstretch, Brosseau took Kenogami Courage first-over and just cleared to the lead as Apocalypse Alpha made a break.

With the rest of the field ten lengths behind, Kenogami Courage should have been all alone on the lead, but by the turn for home, Apocalypse Alpha regrouped for Berube and was closing in on Kenogami Courage, who held on to win by one length.

KENOGAMI COURAGE REPLAY

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Kenogami Courage paid $2.90 to win as the favorite. She is also well-bred and is a half-sister to the top trotter, Kenogami Coco (4,1:53.4f $189,596). She is trained by Jean-Francois Reid, who bred and co-owns the filly with Marie-Claude Reid, Stephane Brosseau and Maurice Houle.

In the 3rd race $6,500 Preferred-Handicap Trot, Capteur de Reve (Muscle Mass) and driver Stephane Brosseau led from the start, winning by three quarters of a length in 1:59.1 over Fix A Drink (Robert Shepherd) and Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube).

The 5th race $7,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace saw three horses, Fancy Girl (Francis Picard), race favorite Askmysecretary (Pascal Berube) and Platine Alpha (Control The Moment, Jimmy Gagnon) three-wide around the first turn vying for the early lead.

Platine Alpha won the early battle and led the rest of the one mile race, winning by two lengths in 1:57 over Fancy Girl with Askmysecretary third. It was the fifth win this year for Platine Alpha.

Track Notes: Driver Stephane Brosseau not only won both divisions of the series Friday but ended the day with a driving quadruple for the first time this season. Pascal Berube had a driving triple and Sylvain Tremblay a training triple. The opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacers is this Sunday at H3R with four divisions, three for the fillies and one for the colts. Post time is 12:00 noon on Sunday.

For a free race program, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club