The Hippodrome 3R (H3R) played host on Sunday (Aug. 25) to five harness racing divisions of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old Quebec-bred pacers and trotters.
This was the third and final preliminary round in the series. The top eight point earners in each category will return on Super Sunday, September 8, for their four $55,000 finals.
The fastest of the five divisions was the 7th race $10,000 pace for two-year-old colts that saw three lead changes early as Changement Detemps (Stephane Brosseau) led early with race favorite The Magic Moment (Control The Moment) and driver Jonathan Lachance in the pocket seat in :29.4 to the first quarter.
Then HP Bellissimo (Robert Shepherd) quickly moved first-over to take command and then right at the half mile in :59.3, The Magic Moment moved first-over and it took him until the backstretch to clear to the lead before the three quarters in 1:29.3.
No one could catch The Magic Moment, who won by two lengths in 1:59.3 over HP Bellissimo and Kos Im Doc (Marie-Claude Auger). It was a lifetime mark and the second win this season for The Magic Moment ($2.50), who is trained by Francis Guillemette for Gestion A & a Belander, Inc, who also bred the colt.
THE MAGIC MOMENT REPLAY
The 5th race second $7,500 division for the pacing fillies first saw Silver Majesty (All Bets Off) and driver Denis St Pierre work their way to the lead over HP Top Modele (Stephane Brosseau), but then came the race favorite Justine Ray (Pascal Berube) and they cleared to the lead after a :29 first quarter.
Justine Ray continued to lead to the half mile in 1:00 and the three-quarters in 1:30.4 as she was up by three lengths going into the final turn. Then with a burst of speed, Silver Majesty caught up to Justine Ray and then after a torrid stretch battle, Silver Majesty came on to win by a head in 2:00. HP Top Modele was third.
It was the third straight win for Silver Majesty and a lifetime mark. She is trained by Jean-Francois Maguire, who has had the filly just a month for the Silver Stables and Marie Michelle Gaboury. She paid $4.60 to win.
SILVER MAJESTY REPLAY
In the 3rd race first $7,500 division of the series for two-year-old pacing fillies it was Mirabel Enfete (Leader Bayama) and driver Stephane Brosseau who led from start to finish, winning with ease by two and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.3. The pocket-sitting race favorite, Myvaliam (William Roy) was second with Wild River Raccoon (David Pilon) third.
It was the maiden win for Mirabel Enfete ($6.70) in her third lifetime start. She is trained by Maxime Velaye for breeder-owner Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, Que.
MIRABEL ENFETE REPLAY
The trotters were featured in two $10,000 divisions of the Future Stars Series. The colts raced first in the 9th race.
Despite some early breakers, Mass Speed (Muscle Mass) and driver Denis St Pierre were able to out trot Muscle Du Haras (Marie-Claude Auger) to the early lead. Mass Speed then held the field at bay as he led the entire one mile race, winning by four and three-quarter lengths in 2:03.3. Muscle Du Haras was second with Silver Porsche (Guy Gagnon) third.
It was the lifetime mark and the second win in just four starts for Mass Speed, who was bred, owned and trained by Michel Allard, paying $7.80 to win.
MASS SPEED REPLAY
The 11th race was the $10,000 division for the trotting fillies and Chic Choc Rose (Marie-Claude Auger) saw her unbeaten streak of three straight wins come to an end at the hands of Miche Charm (Muscle Mass) and driver Guy Gagnon.
Going to the lead from post two, Miche Charm cut the mile with the 1/5 favorite Chic Choc Rose sitting the two-hole trip until the top of the stretch. Chic Choc Rose started to come after Miche Charm but could not gain any ground in the stretch as Miche Charm went on to win by two lengths in 2:04.4. Chic Choc Rose held for second with Soleo (Stephane Brosseau) third.
It was the second win in four starts for Miche Charm, who is trained by Jeremy Marcotte. Denis & Jeremy Marcotte own the filly that paid $9.80 to win.
MICHE CHARM REPLAY
Track Notes: Denis St Pierre was the hot driver with a triple, two of them in the series. Francis Picard, Stephane Brosseau and William Roy all had driving doubles and Maxime Velaye had a training double. On Saturday the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit held races at Ayer’s Cliff and David Pilon had a driver-trainer triple. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday afternoon with first post at 4:00 pm. For more information and free race programs, visit here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club