Big mile by Frido PV in Preferred

TROIS RIVIÈRES QUE – Trainer/driver Yves St Jacques, who turned 65 years old last Sunday, gave himself a slightly-belated birthday present when he guided Frido PV, a four-year-old harness racing son of Muscle Mass, to a 1:57.2 victory in the $5500 Preferred handicap trot at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, missing the divisional track record set by Whitewater Rapids by a single tick.

St Jacques put Frido PV right on the lead, with Captain Krupnik taking second and the heavy favorite Bucketlist Hamover, who won in 1:56.1 in his last start here, forced to accept third after starting from an outer post. The quarter was reached in :28.2, and when the pace slowed down, Captain Krupnik moved to the outside and challenged at the :58.3 half.

Bucketlist Hanover had followed Captain Krupnik outside, but when that one faltered before the 1:27.1 three-quarters, “Bucketlist” went back inside and regathered to take another shot at the leader. But there was no catching Frido PV this day, as his two-length lead at the three-quarters became three lengths at the stretch call and wound up to be 2½ lengths at the finish. Marcel Brouillard owns the fast trotter, third in his Quebec-bred series championship last year.

FRIDO PV REPLAY

In the $4500 Preferred handicap distaff pace, Platine Alpha sat in the pocket, moved out at the three-quarters, and then went on to take the contest in a new lifetime mark of 1:57 with Pascal Berube driving. The three-year-old daughter of Control The Moment, third in her Quebec-bred championship and then second in the Bombardier Stake last season, seems to be approaching peak form for Sylvain Tremblay and Ecurie Alpha; both driver Berube and trainer Tremblay lead the local horsemen’s colony early in the meet.

PLATINE ALPHA REPLAY

Stephane Brosseau guided home three winners on the day, Berube two; the only multiple on the trainers’ side was the two victories recorded by Pier Luc Lamy, with the double doubling his lifetime conditioning triumphs to four.

Racing will go back to its regular schedule, Friday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m., this week.

For full race results, click here.

From Hippodrome 3R