Bayama Farms invades Hippodrome 3R

Trois-Rivieres, QC – The Future Stars Series gets underway at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday with four opening round divisions for two-year-old harness racing pacers headlined by three top contenders from Bayama Farms of Saint-Andre-D'Argenteuil.

Hall of Famer Yves Filion is no stranger to H3R and his homebred Bayama Standardbreds have always been top performers in the sport. This Sunday is no exception for the famed horseman.

There will be three rounds of preliminary competition in the Future Stars Series with the top eight point earners eligible for their respective $55,000 finals on Sunday, September 27.

Filion's Celia Bayama heads the third race first division of the series for two-year-old pacing fillies. The daughter of Bettor's Delight starts from post six with Filion in the sulky. Although winless in three starts this year, Celia Bayama has shown exceptional speed in the Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots, raced timed in 1:56 and 1:56.2 at Mohawk Park and Grand River Raceway.

She will be taking on recent H3R winners Platine Alpha (post 4), Nikita Sena (post 2) and the second choice in the race, CL Sportsextreme (post 1), who already boasts two Grassroot wins in 1:57 and 1:56.2.

The sixth race second filly division does not feature a Bayama horse, but is headlined by D Gs Magicmoment from post one. This Control The Moment filly, trained by Guylaine Fortin and to be driven by Jonathan Lachance, was third in its last start at Mohawk Park, raced timed in 1:54.3 and already shows a qualifying win in 1:58.2.

Her main competition will come from SOS Faline (post 5), who has two wins at Rideau Carleton Raceway, the fastest in 1:56.2.

The colts get underway in the Future Stars Series in the fourth race where Colonel Bayama starts for Filion from the rail and faces a formidable foe in D Gs Runforhim (post 5). Both colts show sub-two-minute speed despite being winless.

The top contender on the afternoon program for Yves Filion goes from post six in the seventh race second colt division and his name is Cadillac Bayama.

Last week at Mohawk Park Cadillac Bayama, with Filion's son Sylvain in the sulky, won his division of the Grassroots Series in 1:53.4. The colt by Sunshine Beach takes on another Mohawk Park invader named YS Do It Right (post 5), who was second in 1:53.2, showing a last quarter mile in :27.

The nine-race card gets underway at 1:00 pm Sunday. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

From the Quebec Jockey Club