Captain PV trots up a storm at Hippodrome 3R

Last year Captain PV (Wheeling N Dealin) failed to finish in the top three in five lifetime starts but has now returned in winning harness racing form at age three, capturing the $7,000 feature trot for Quebec-Breds Friday (June 28) at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

The 5th race feature for non-winners of $30,000 (colts), $35,000 (fillies) that are Quebec-Breds, saw race favorite Captain PV and driver Marie-Claude Auger shoot right to the early lead and with Last Try (Sylvain Lacaille) sitting the pocket trip.

Captain PV led to the quarter in :29.3, the half in 1:00.3 and three-quarters in 1:30.3 before they were challenged on the outside by Hercules (Stephane Brosseau) and despite gaining on the leader on the final turn, he went off-stride.

That left Captain PV all alone down the stretch as he won by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.3. Last Try was second with Drinklikehentry (William Roy) third.

It was the second straight win for Captain PV. The three-year-old colt is co-owned by trainer Serge Nadeau with the Y Corriveau Stable and paid $4.30 to win.

CAPTAIN PV REPLAY

In the 4^th race Preferred Trot, Ciel Bleu (Muscle Mass) came first-over for driver Stephane Brosseau and went on to score in impressive fashion.

Vitor (Steven Gagnon) shot right to the lead but was overtaken by Orlys Pride (Robert Shepherd) by the opening quarter in :29.1. Ciel Beau then came first-over with stablemate entry El Bleu (Simon Delisle) second over to the half mile in 1:00.

Ciel Bleu then came after Vitor and passed him at the three-quarters in 1:30.3. He then held the field at bay around the final turn and came on to win by three and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.4. Cleveland Moneyka (Pascal Berube) was second with Orlys Pride third.

It was the first win in five starts for Ciel Bleu. The six-year-old gelding is trained by Maxime Velaye for owner-breeder Provoquante Stable of Mirabel, Que. and paid $4.20 to win.

CIEL BLEU REPLAY

Chickie Love (Badlands Hanover) was the longest shot on the board in the 2^nd race pace at odds of 33-1. Robert Shepherd sent the rare free legged pacer right to the front and he led all the way, winning in 1:59 and paying $69.20 to win. Finishing second was 18-1 Reaganomics (Sylvain Fontaine) and the $2 exacta paid $992.80.

Track Notes: Both Stephane Brosseau and Marie-Claude Auger scored driving doubles and Marc Belanger had a trainer double. Live racing resumes at H3R on Sunday with first race post time at 12:00 noon. Featured will be a $7,000 Quebec-Bred three-year-old pace headed by Lucien Bombardier Pace winner Ronda Du Lac against Dan Speed and D Gs Lorijeanne. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club