Stakes action at Hippodrome 3R

TROIS RIVIERES, QUEBEC – Three-year-old pacers were in the harness racing limelight Sunday afternoon at Hippodrome 3R in the first preliminary of their Quebec-bred series, known as the "Coupe des Eleveurs," or literally "Cup of the Breeders." Two divisions of colts and geldings contested $7500 purses; there was one ten-horse field of fillies in action in an $8250 event.

 

The Sportswriter colt Wildriverbumblebee, making his first start since setting a 1:54.3 stakes and track record in winning his two-year-old Q Championship last September 4, had plenty of sting in his 2017 bow, buzzing home in in 1:56. Stephane Brosseau refused to take the pocket behind hard-leaving Western Phil and paid a 27.1 price for command, but after rating the middle half to 1:00 he had plenty left for the dash home, with Western Phil retaining second over favored Doc Semalu, coming off an Ontario Roots win from post ten. Francis Richard had the victorious colt in prime form immediately for owner/breeder Dr. John Bradbury.

 

In the other division, the Shanghai Phil gelding Rebel Voyager brought winning habits and early speed to 3R from Ontario and took his field wire-to-wire for driver Stephane Gendron in 1:58, giving trainer Francis Richard a sweep of the colt sections. ICR Racing is the owner and breeder of the promising sophomore (both of the breeders of the colt winners still own their horse – appropriate in the "Coupe des Eleveurs.") Noplay sat the pocket throughout to be second, while favored Majo Lou Beka, away fifth in the six-horse field despite the rail, had to go a long uncovered route and could not sustain his move though holding for third.

 

The Shanghai Phil filly D GS Elsa overcame her bulky ten-horse field in the best way – make two moves to get the top, get to the half in 59.3, and then sprint home in 58 to complete a 1:57.3 mile that was her third straight victory. Yaris Barama, the favorite who finished a neck shy, lost no honor in the race, starting from post ten, coming three-wide late on the second turn to get to first-over past the half, retucking in the pocket, and then challenging again approaching the wire, only to come up just shy of the talented winner, guided by Jonathan Lachance for trainer Guylaine Fortin, the latter co-owner and co-breeder Daniel Surprenant (continuing the owner/breeder-"Eleveurs" theme). Last year's Championship winner Queen Elsa had a hard trip from the trailing post nine and ended up fifth.

 

The two-year-olds start their Quebec stakes in just three weeks, and several hopefuls made their lifetime debuts in a $3500 freshman-only pace. The winner was the Sportswriter filly Butterfly BG, who made two moves to the lead, then held off Power Fog to the inside and Art of the Master to the outside (both colts) in 2:02.4 for driver Stephane Brosseau, trainer Daniel Martin, and owner/breeder Gaston Bibeau.

 

Between the races all of the Quebec two- and three-year-olds made a stop in front of the four horse in the eighth race – and who else to get good advice about the local-bred series than its fastest pacer, Half A Billion, by virtue of his 1:52.2 win in the 4-5YO male pace on June 11, also the fastest mile of the season here. Half A Billion then went out and made what looked like easy work against a talented $8000 Gold Invitational field, coming uncovered into twin back fractions of 28.1 and still winning handily in 1:53.4 for driver Stephane Brosseau and trainer Francis Richard (both completing triples) and the partnership of Michel and Francois Letarte, Jean Allaire, and Corey Giles, who saw their pride and joy win his sixth straight at 3R.

 

FINISHING LINES – The veteran Abundasass took a conditioned trot today in 2:02.2 – one day after he had won an Invitational trot at St-Hughes on the Quebec regional circuit in 2:04.4!