Front end holds up in H3R co-features

Trois-Rivieres, QC – With sunny skies and 70 degrees, the conditions were perfect at the Hippodrome 3R Friday (Sept. 2) for harness racing horses that like being on the front-end. Such was the case in both co-feature races and in five of the ten races on the card.

The 6th race Preferred Trot saw Brady Bunch (Muscle Mass) and driver Stephane Gendron make the most of starting from post one and shot right to the early lead with Bonfire Bash (Francis Picard) grabbing the two-hole spot to the first quarter in :29.

Race favorite Kinnder Dangerzone and driver Stephane Brosseau came first-over with Goaltender (Pascal Berube) following second-over and they passed the half mile in :59.4.

In the backstretch Kinnder Dangerzone could not collar Brady Bunch as he led the field past the three quarters in 1:29. Coming down the stretch Brady Bunch pulled away from the field to win by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:59.2. Kinnder Dangerzone was second with Royalty Beer (Kevin Maguire) third.

BRADY BUNCH REPLAY

It was the first win in three starts this year for Brady Bunch. He is trained by Jacques Dupont for Les Ecuries Dorleans, Inc. of Sainte-Julie. He paid $7.30 to win.

Then in the 9th race Preferred-Handicap Mares Pace, it was the race favorite, Platine Alpha (Control The Moment) and driver Jimmy Gagnon, who controlled the pace from start to finish.

Parked out to the opening quarter in :27.4 by Sophies Cam (Stephane Brosseau), Platine Alpha was once again at her best on the front end. She led to the half mile in :58.4 and then with Arrhythmogenic (Daniel St Pierre) first-over and followed by Coz Im Special (Michel Lagace), Platine Alpha kept them all at bay.

At the three-quarters in 1:28.2, Coz Im Special went three-wide and was parked that way around the final turn and as they started down the stretch it was all Platine Alpha and Jimmy Gagnon, winning by two lengths in 1:57.2. Coz Im Special was second (for the sixth straight time) with Sophies Cam third.

Platine Alpha now boasts seven wins this year for trainer Sylvain Tremblay. His homebred mare was bred and is owned by the Alpha Stable of Metabechouan. She paid $4.20 to win.

PLATINE ALPHA REPLAY

Track Notes: Pascal Berube had a driving double and Francis Richard a training double on Friday. This Sunday is Caretaker Appreciation Day at the Hippodrome 3R.  All caretakers competing at H3R will get special post parade and winner circle announcements, prize packages for caretakers of winning horses, drawing for prizes, a free lunch and more. First race post time Sunday is 12:00 noon. For a free race program, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club