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Ronda Du Lac (Shadow Play), who last year was a three-time harness racing winner at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R), returns on Sunday (June 30) to headline the $7,000 feature pace for Quebec-Bred three-year-olds.
There will be both colts and fillies in the 6th race feature for non-winners and Ronda Du Lac is the 5/2 favorite for driver Pierre Luc Roy, the older brother of three-time O’Brien award winning driver Louis-Philippe Roy (LPR), who bred and co-owns the filly with Maude Larouche, Michel Letarde and Jean Allaire.
Last year Ronda Du Lac was the winner of the Lucien Bombardier Memorial for two-year-old fillies and she was second in the $55,000 Quebec-Bred Future Stars Final. She made $31,025.
So far in 2024, Ronda Du Lac is winless after seven tries and now she has been one week in the stable of David Pilon and LPR is hoping the change in venue will help her out.
“Last year’s division was really cheap,” said LPR. “And she was fine racing against them in Quebec. It seems like she didn’t improve much between two and three.”
Ronda Du Lac starts from post two. Her race lines show her pacing in 1:56 but failing to earn checks. She has made just $1,152 this year.
“I certainly hope that returning to Quebec will help her,” LPR said. “They even wrote out of the race some of the better ones, like Boom Boom Tonight and Olaf Du Lac, by adding a cap to the condition, so I hope it works in her favour. She’s been disappointing so far.”
One of the two return winners facing against Ronda Du Lac is Dan Speed (post 3) with driver Jessica Turenne, who in his last start was able to grind it out first-over en route to a maiden victory at H3R in 1:58.1. The other return winner is Ambitious Mind (post 5) with Francis Picard in the sulky. He showed winning last year at H3R in 1:58.2 and just last week he won in 2:01.2.
And when will LPR be making his first appearance back on his home track at H3R?
“I really wish I can come down for the Prix d’Eté,” LPR explained. “If I can get the chance to have a good one to drive in there, if not I’ll certainly be there for the finals in September.
“We also have Ronda’s little sister,” LPR added. “Coeuratout (Du Lac), that seems a lot faster, so she should do great in there during the summer!”
A classic match-up will take place in the 10th race $5,000 Preferred Pace where Thong Control (Control The Moment) and Celia Bayama (Bettors Delight), will face-off. Both steeds are on two-race winning streaks.
Thong Control goes from post seven for driver Marie-Claude Auger and two starts back sizzled at H3R in 1:55.2, last week winning in 1:58.3. Both those wins came from the rail post position.
Celia Bayama, the top pacing mare this season at H3R, has beaten her female rivals the last two starts, fastest mile in 1:56.2 last week. She starts from post two for driver Stephane Brosseau.
First race post time on Sunday is at 12:00 noon. For more information and free race programs, visit here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club
