16-1 longshot upsets unbeaten Wild Dream Me

The Hippodrome 3R hosted five divisions of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old harness racing pacers and trotters on Sunday (Aug. 27) afternoon. Driver Francis Picard had the hot hands, winning four races on the card, two of them in the series.

This was the final preliminary round of the series leading towards Super Sunday, September 10, when all eight finals of the Quebec-Bred Series will be held featuring the eight highest point earners in each division.

The Future Stars Series got underway in the 2^nd race for the trotting colts and geldings with a purse of $10,000 and a major upset was scored as 16-1 M C Eddy (Lookslikeachpndale) beat previously unbeaten Wild Dream Men by a long nose.

It was Wild Dream Men and driver Stephane Brosseau subbing for trainer-driver Guy Gagnon, going after the early lead by the first quarter in :30.3 with Vol De Banque (Claude Beausoleil) sitting the pocket-trip.

Unbeaten in his three lifetime starts, Wild Dream Men and Brosseau kept the field at bay, leading by two lengths at the half mile in 1:01.4. That was when Drinklikehenry (William Roy) came first-over, giving cover to M C Eddy and driver Pascal Berube.

Once they reached the backstretch, Berube came three-wide with M C Eddy, and they were able to clear around Drinklikehenry and started up after race leader Wild Dream Men. The three-quarters went in 1:33.

Racing neck and neck around the final turn, the two young trotters went at it down the stretch with M C Eddy getting up at the wire over Wild Dream Men. Last Try (Jerome Lombart), at 50-1, was third.

M C EDDY REPLAY

It was the maiden victory for M C Eddy in his third lifetime start. The gelding is trained by Daniel Martin, who bred him with Jean Picard. Martin also co-owns him with Dominique Michel and Jean Carignan. He paid $35.00 to win and now has enough points to make it to the $55,000 final on Sept. 10.

Kenogami Queen (Wheeling N Dealin) became the only horse in the series to sweep all three preliminary rounds, taking the 11^th race $10,000 division for two-year-old trotting fillies.

With Stephane Brosseau in the sulky, Kenogami Queen took the early lead away from JD Beauty (Robert Shepherd) by the first quarter in :31.1. She then led with ease through fractions of 1:02.3 and 1:33, easily winning by one and one-half lengths in 2:04 over JD Beauty with Cleveland U Bet (Jean-Francois Maguire) third.

KENOGAMI QUEEN REPLAY

It was the third straight win in four lifetime starts and a new mark for Kenogami Queen. She is owned and bred by Jean-Francois Reid with Marie Claude Reid and co-owner Mario Menard. She paid $2.70 to win as the wagering favorite.

The $10,000 Future Stars Series division for two-year-old pacing fillies was held in the 7^th race where The Heart Valley (State Treasurer) and driver Francis Picard at odds of 6-1, made the most of starting from post two, shooting to the lead and never looking back.

The Heart Valley led the field through fractions of :29.3, 1:00.4 and 1:30.1 before pulling away from the field in the stretch to win by five and one-quarter lengths in 2:00. Shes Rock (Robert Shepherd) was second with race favorite Breedingbankrupsy (Pascal Berube) third.

THE HEART VALLEY REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the first win in four starts for The Heart Valley. The filly is trained by Gerard Demers, who co-owns her with Investissement K F B and Jean Roach Marois. She paid $14.60 to win.

The 5^th race was the first of two $7,500 divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Boomboom Tonight (Sportswriter) was the overwhelming 1/5 race favorite and he got perfect cover early on from Olaf Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) to the quarter mile in :29 and the half mile in :59.1.

With Marc Belanger in the sulky, Boomboom Tonight pulled first-over from the pocket-trip and started after Olaf Du Lac at the three-quarters in 1:29.1. Those two raced head-to-head around the final turn and coming down the stretch Boomboom Tonight came on late to win by a neck in 1:58.2. Dan Speed (Robert Shepherd) was third.

BOOMBOOM TONIGHT REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark, the second straight win and third win in five starts for Boomboom Tonight. The gelding is trained, owned and was bred by Elisabeth Pothier and paid $2.70 to win.

Then in the 9^th race second division for the colts and geldings, it was all Ambitious Mind (Big Jim) and driver Francis Picard as they led from start to finish in a lifetime best 1:58.3 clocking.

Leaving from the rail, Picard sent Ambitious Mind right to the front and never looked back, holding the field at bay as they cut fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.4, leading by four lengths at the top of the stretch and holding on to win by one length. The pocket-sitting Love That Miramont (Jean Bernard Renaud) was second placed fifth for interference in the first turn. Dream Choice (Pascal Berube) was third placed second and Haka Timatanga (Robert Shepherd) was fourth placed third.

AMBITIOUS MIND REPLAY

It was the third win in just four lifetime starts for Ambitious Mind. He was bred by Francis Picard and is owned by Severine Picard, Martin Bilodeau and Claude Thibault, paying $4.20 to win.

Track Notes: Along with Francis Picard scoring his four-bagger, Robert Shepherd had a driving triple on Sunday. Live racing will resume at the Hippodrome 3R next Friday, September 1 at 4:00 pm. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club