Front end holds up in Hippodrome 3R features

The front end was the place to be in the co-feature harness racing pace and trot Friday (Sept. 1) at the Hippodrome 3R.

The 4^th race feature pace saw the 13-year-old Windsun Cheyenne (Cam’s Card Shark), the oldest competitor in the field, and driver Pascal Berube leave from post one and not let anyone pass them by.

With Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) leaving from post eight and grabbing the two-hole trip, Windsun Cheyenne cut fractions of :28.1, :59.1 and 1:29 as CL Big Beach (Joel Gagnon) tried coming first-over to no avail.

By the top of the stretch, Windsun Cheyenne was in full control and went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:57.4. Race favorite Lucky Leonard (Stephane Brosseau) finished second with Outlaw Turn N Burn third.

WINDSUN CHEYENNE REPLAY

It was the fourth win on the year for Windsun Cheyenne. He is trained and owned by Gina Bragagnolo of Lavaltrie, Quebec and paid $8.10 to win.

Then in the 5^th race feature trot it was 7-1 Muscles Forever (Muscle Mass) and driver Sylvain Fontaine who were able to wire the field.

With Sammy Justice (Jocelyn Gendron) getting the two-hole trip, Muscles Forever cut fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.2 before My Mini Miracle (Simon Delisle) came first-over with Timonier (Pascal Berube) getting the second-over cover.

Approaching the three-quarters, Berube tipped Timonier three-wide and after tripping the teletimer in 1:30.2, Muscles Forever had a new foe to contend with.

As they raced down the stretch, Timonier tried as he might, but could not collar Muscles Forever, who won by three quarters of a length in 2:01. Sammy Justice was third.

MUSCLES FOREVER REPLAY

It was the third win this season for Muscles Forever. The six-year-old gelding is trained by Danile Martin for owner-breeder Jean Berthiaume of Sorel-Tracy, Quebec and paid $16.20 to win.

Track Notes: Pascal Berube had the hot hands Friday winning four races on the card. Robert Shepherd had a driving double and David Pilon had a training double. Live racing resumes at H3R on Sunday at 12:00 noon with a ten-race program headlined by two Preferred pacing events, one for the fillies and mares and one for the horses. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club