Two moves and then a romp in Hippodrome 3R feature

The very impressive three-year-old harness racing pacer Ambitious Mind (Big Jim) was used twice in the race before winning in a romp in the $7,000 Quebec-Bred feature at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) on Sunday, June 30.

The 6^th race feature saw D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) go right to the lead from the rail with Gold Nugget (William Roy) leaving from post seven and then dropping into the two-hole spot to the first quarter in :27.4.

Then driver Francis Picard came first-over with the overhelming 1/9 favorite Ambitious Mind to try and take the lead away from D Gs Lorijeanne and then they dropped into the two-hole spot after the half mile marker in :57.4.

As the field entered the backstretch, Ronda Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) started up first-over, but then Picard came out of the two-hole with Ambitious Mind and went after D Gs Lorijeanne and passed them at the three-quarters in 1:27.4.

Then as if shot out of a cannon, Ambitious Mind tore away from the field and opened up in the stretch, winning in a romp by four and three-quarter lengths in 1:58.3. Ronda Du Lac was second with D Gs Lorijeanne third.

AMBITIOUS MIND REPLAY

It was the second straight win for Ambitious Mind, who is trained by Dominique Picard and was bred by Francis Picard. The gelding is owned by Severine Picard, Martin Bilodeau and Claude Thibault, all of Que. He paid just $2.20 to win.

In the 10^th race $5,000 Preferred Pace, 6/5 race favorite Thong Control made a costly break on the move in the backstretch and was out of the race. That left Twin B Powerball (Bettors Delight) and trainer-driver David Pilon, the 2-1 second choice, all alone on the front end with Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau) sitting second.

Twin B Powerball just motored on to win with ease by four and one-half lengths in 1:56 for this third win of the season. Celia Bayama held for second with Bettor Half (Denis St Pierre) third. The winner is owned by the Francis Richard Stable and Gaston Bibeau, paying $6.40 to win.

TWIN B POWERBALL REPLAY

Track Notes: Driver Stephane Brosseau was at his best on Sunday as he scored four wins on the afternoon, the first time he has done it this season. Delco Dynamo and trainer-driver Michel Audet scored the highest win price of the season at H3R Sunday, winning the 7^th race pace in 1:56 and paying $89.00 to win, $82.20 to place and $19.50 to show. Live racing resumes next Friday, July 5 at 4:00 pm and featured will be the Canadian Regional Driving Championship Final to determine who will represent Canada in the 2025 World Driving Championship in New Zealand. Featured among the nine drivers will be Quebec representatives Stephane Brosseau and Robert Shepherd taking on defending champion Doug McNair, James MacDonald, Tyler Borth, Redmond Doucet, David Dowling, Phil Giesbrecht and Mike Hennessey. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club