18-1 upset winner in Quebec Bred Series

The opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older harness racing trotters took place at the Hippodrome 3R Friday (June 16) afternoon and it was the 18-1 longshot, Orlys Pride (Archangel) who surprised the field and the fans in the first division.

The Quebec-Bred Series is for four-year-old and older trotters. There are three preliminary rounds of competition followed by $30,000 finals. Each preliminary round races for a purse of $6,500.

In the 4^th race first division of the series Orlys Pride and driver Jocelyn Gendron took no chances at the start and went right to the lead as both La Bromontoise (post 1) and Royalty Beer (post 3) had made breaks at the start of the race.

Easlily getting the lead, Orlys Pride led to the first quarter in :29 with Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube) taking the two-hole. They raced single file to the half mile in :59.2 when the race favorite, Only For Justice (Robert Shepherd), came first-over and flushed out Stella Alpha as they thought they could pass Orlys Pride, but that was not happening.

Passing the three-quarters in 1:29.1, Shepherd swung Only For Justice three-wide around the final turn. Starting down the stretch they were three-across the track but Orlys Pride proved to be too strong, going on to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:59.2 over Only For Justice with Stella Alpha third.

It was the second start and first win of the 2023 season for Orlys Pride. The seven-year-old gelding is trained by Paulo Jutras for the Orlando Stables Inc. of Lasalle. Orlys Pride returned a generous $38.00 to win.

ORLYS PRIDE REPLAY

The 8^th race second division saw former Quebec Champion Seeyou Men (Guy Gagnon) battle neck and neck with race favorite Frido PV (Jonathan Lachance) for the last quarter mile right to the finish wire.

Seeyou Men, the oldest competitor in the series at age 11, left from post six for Lachance and they easily made the lead before the opening quarter in :28.3. Capteur De Reve (Stephane Brosseau) grabbed the two-hole trip.

As they came in front of the grandstand the first time, Seeyou Men was in command as Frido PV (Muscle Mass) started up first over with X O X O (Robert Shepherd) following second-over past the half mile in :59.1.

Coming down the backstretch, Frido PV continued to gain on Seeyou Men, collaring the pacesetter at the three-quarters in 1:28.2. Those two would then race eye to eye around the final turn and down the stretch with Seeyou Men looking for the upset but Frido PV proving he’s the best, surging to the lead at the wire to win by a head in 1:58.2. Lune Duharas (Loic Gueriel) was third.

FRIDO PV REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fourth victory in just five starts this season for Frido PV. The six-year-old stallion is trained by Yves St Jacques for owner-breeder Marcel Brouillard of St-Marcel-De-Richelieu. He paid $3.20 to win.

Track Notes: Pascal Berube, Stephane Brosseau and Jocelyn Gendeon all had driving doubles while Serge Houde had a training double. Live racing resumes Sunday at 12:00 noon with three divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers. There are two horse divisions and one for the mares. Featured will be Aladdin versus The Light Speed and Lili GL against Kiss Me Bad. For a free race program, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club