The three-year-old Quebec-Bred harness racing pacers were on display at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) Sunday (July 14) with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series. There were four $7,500 divisions, two each for the colts and fillies.
The fastest of the four divisions came in the 9thĀ race second colt division as the overwhelming 1/9 race favorite, Boomboom Tonight (Sportswriter) for the second straight start, was able to wire the field in a romp.
Leaving from post four, Boomboom Tonight with driver Pascal Berube sped by HP Coaticook (Stephane Brosseau) and instantly held the field at bay to the first quarter in :29, then the half mile in :59.2 and the three-quarters in 1:28.1.
The gelding did not slow down around the final turn and opened up down the stretch, winning with ease by eight and one-half lengths in 1:56.1. HP Coaticook was second with Dan Speed (Jessica Turenne) third.
It was the second straight win for Boomboom Tonight, who was bred and is owned and trained by Elisabeth Pothier. He paid just $2.10 to win.
BOOMBOOM TONIGHT REPLAY
Driver Louis-Philippe Roy came back to H3R to drive just two horses that he owns and did not go home without a trip to the winnerās circle. In the 8thĀ race first $7,500 division of the Breeders Trophy Series for the colts, he was able to wire the field with his own Olaf Du Lac (Sportswriter).
Leaving from post four, Olaf Du Lac took the lead away from Ambitious Mind (Francis Picard) by the first quarter in :28.3. Then cut fractions of :58.4 to the half mile as race favorite Gladiator S BG (Pascal Berube) started up first-over.
By three-quarters in 1:28.2, Gladiator S BG was gaining on Olaf Du Lac, but on the final turn, Roy asked his horse for more and it responded.
Those two battled to the wire with Olaf Du Lac holding on to win by three quarters of a length in 1:57.1 over Gladiator S BG. Ambitious Mind was third.
It was the third win of the season for Olaf Du Lac, who was bred by Roy and is co-owned by Roy with his older brother, Pierre-Luc Roy along with Maude Larouche and JeanAllaire. He paid $4.70 to win.
OLAF DU LAC REPLAY
The fastest of the filly divisions was the 6thĀ race where race favorite One More Bet (All Bets Off) and driver Jocelyn Gendron quarter moved on Ronda Du Lac (Louis-Philippe Roy) in :28.1 and then tore away from the field.
One More Bet sliced fractions of :58 and 1:28.1, easily winning in the stretch by two lengths in 1:57. YS Flowernumberten (Pascal Berube) was second over Ronda Du Lac.
Trained by Jean Tourigny, it was the first win in seven starts for One More Bet. She was bred and is owned by the Morel, Inc. stable and paid $2.20 to win.
ONE MORE BET REPLAY
The 4thĀ race first division for the fillies saw the race favorite The Heart Valley (State Treasurer) and driver Marie-Claude Auger trade early leads with D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) and then sit the pocket trip through fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:30.
Then off the final turn, Auger came after Lachance and The Heart Valley tore away in the stretch to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:59.2. D Gs Lorijeanne was second with Ma Diva (Sylvain Lacaille) third.
It was a lifetime mark and the first win in eleven starts this year for The Heart Valley. She is trained by Louis Philippe Turcotte for Investissement KFB, Gerard Demers, and Jean Roch Marois. The Heart Valley paid $3.50 to win.
THE HEART VALLEY REPLAY
The fastest mile of the year was recorded in the 10thĀ race $6,500 Preferred-Handicap Pace as Aladdin (Shadow Play) and driver Stephane Brosseau led from start to finish in 1:53.4.
Track Notes: Leading driver Pascal Berube had a triple Sunday and Jocelyn Gendron a driving double. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday, July 19 with first race post time at 4:00 pm. Featured will be the second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old Quebec-Bred trotting colts and fillies. For more information and free race programs, visit here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club