Chikaboom can’t be caught in Breeders Trophy Series

Trois-Rivieres, QC – The Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old harness racing pacers got underway at the Hippodrome 3R with three divisions of the opening round Sunday (July 17), one of them the fastest mile of the day.

In the 11th race, the second of two $7,500 divisions, Chikaboom (Betterthancheddar) and driver Francis Picard gave the competition something to worry about as they wired the field with ease in 1:54.3.

That clocking was a fifth of a second faster than the Preferred-Handicap Pace went in.

Picard left with Chikaboom from post three and never looked back. They held the field at bay with race favorite Aladdin (Samuel Fillion) following in second by two lengths and the rest of the field gapping the entire mile.

After fractions of :27, :55.3 and 1:24.3, Chikaboom showed no signs of letting up as they cruised to a two-length triumph. Aladdin was second with Titanium Alpha (Stephane Brosseau) third.

CHIKABOOM REPLAY

It was the first win in five starts this year for Chikaboom. He is trained by Dr. John Bradbury for owner-breeder Harold Duguay of Pabos and paid $5.50 to win

The first $7,500 division of the Breeders Trophy Series for the colts was the 7th race where last year’s Quebec Champion two-year-old, HP Momentum (Control The Moment), finally got the goose egg off his win column.

Got His Mom and driver Francis Picard went right to the front with race favorite, Le Massif (Steeve Genois) sitting in the pocket seat to the first quarter in :28.3

Then coming to the half mile marker in :58.3, HP Momentum and driver Jonathan Lachance came first-over and started to gain on the race leader.

Down the backside HP Momentum continued to advance on Got Hot Mom passing the three quarters in 1:27.2. Then coming off the final turn, HP Momentum lost his momentum, and it looked like it would be an easy win for Got Hot Mom.

Whatever happened to HP Momentum was forgotten as Lachance was able to get his mount back in gear and on the move in the stretch, catching Got Hot Mom and winning by a half a length in 1:57.2. Le Massif was third.

HP MOMENTUM REPLAY

It was the first win in eight starts this year for HP Momentum. The gelding is trained and owned by Francis Guillemette of Guelph and paid $4.70 to win.

In the lone Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old filly pacers with a purse of $10,000, it was Majo Sport Bella (Sportswriter) who stole the show.

The 4th race started off with race favorite Shes Rockandfame and driver Samuel Fillion taking the early lead with Majo Sport Bella and driver Jonathan Lachance wisely following Shes Rockandfame from the second tier in post nine.

Then by the first quarter in :28.4 there were two lead changes between the two race favorites with Shes Rockandfame retaking the lead before the half mile in 1:00.2.

In the backstretch, Ora Sena (Pascal Berube) came first-over with Godiva Me Amour (Robert Shepherd) second-over and that flushed Lachance and Major Sport Bella to move again and take over the lead by three quarters in 1:29.4.

From there it was a walk in the park as Majo Sport Bell and Lachance pulled away from the field and won in a romp by four and one-half lengths in 1:59.3. Shes Rockandfame was second with Kinder Dirty Diana (Jessica Turenne) third.

MAJO SPORT BELLA REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the second straight win for the undefeated Majo Sport Bella, who never raced at age 2. She is trained by Mormand Bardier, Jr. for owner Lynda Fortin of Mirable. She paid $4.80 to win.

A big upset took place in the 10th race $6,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace as 8-1 Mickeymaksomespeed (Mickey Hanover) and Kiwon Waldron were parked out by Ever Again (Antoine Desrochers) to an opening quarter mile in :26.4.

Mickeymaksomespeed then they led the rest of the mile race, winning by two lengths in 1:54.4 over race favorite Siddhartha (Pierre-Luc Roy) and BS Tyrrfic (Pascal Berube).

It was Mickeymaksomespeed’s second win this year for owner, breeder and trainer Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit and he paid $18.80 to win.

Track Notes: Three drivers all had doubles on Sunday. They were Jonathan Lachance (with both in the stakes series), Pascal Berube and Francis Picard. Dr. John Bradbury had a training double. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday, July 22 with post time at 4:00 pm. For more information, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club