Got Charlie upsets at 36-1 in Breeders Trophy Series

Trois-Rivieres, QC – The second highest win payoff of the year at the Hippodrome 3R took place in the 7^th race $10,000 Breeders Trophy Series third leg for three-year-old pacing fillies Sunday (Aug. 21) as Got Charlie (Sportswriter) and trainer-driver Daniel Dulude upset the field at odds of 36-1.

It was Shesrockandfame and driver Samuel Fillion that were first on the lead in the 7^th race co-feature with the race favorite, undefeated Majo Sport Bella (Jonathan Lachance), in the pocket-seat to the first quarter mile in :28.4.

Sports Impression (Stephane Brosseau) started up first-over giving second-over cover to Got Charlie, the longest shot on the board, as they passed the half in :59.1.

They raced down the backstretch with Major Sport Bella still boxed in on the rail and then Dulude took Got Charlie three-wide at the three-quarters in 1:29.1.

Around the final turn, Got Charlie cleared by Sports Impression and kept Major Sport Bella trapped as they came after Shes Rockandfame.

Starting down the stretch, Lachance found clearance and tried to come after Got Charlie, who had momentum and went on to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:59. Majo Sport Bella was second with Shes Rockandfame third.

It was the maiden victory for Got Charlie in just her third lifetime start. She was unraced at age two for owner-breeder Bruno Lepage of Beauharnois and paid $75.60 to win.

GOT CHARLIE REPLAY

Going into Sunday’s third and final leg of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at the Hippodrome 3R, Aladdin (Shadow Play) only had one second place finish in the series and needed a big mile in order to be eligible for the $65,000 final on September 12.

Not only did Aladdin and driver Samuel Fillion win the co-feature race, but they stamped themselves as the horse to beat in the final.

The $10,000 5^th race began with Aladdin leaving from post two with Chikaboom (Francis Picard) also on the move from post seven. Fillion forced Picard to take a seat behind him by the opening quarter mile in :27.3.

Then approaching the half mile, Kiwon Waldron came first-over with Ritchie Alpha, giving second-over cover to Jack Panic and driver Robert Shepherd past the half mile in :58. Then in the backstretch, Shepherd moved three-wide with Jack Panic at the three-quarters in 1:28.

By the top of the stretch horses were three-across as they started down the stretch, but Aladdin proved to be the strong horse, kicking in a :28.2 last quarter mile to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:56.2. Jack Panic was second with Chikaboom third.

It was the second straight win and fifth victory in eight starts this year for Aladdin. Trained by Maxime Velaye, Aladdin was bred and is owned by Guy Corbeil of Mirabel and paid $4.20 to win as the wagering favorite.

ALADDIN REPLAY

It was a special win Sunday for trainer Maxime Velaye.

“I felt very good with the win today,” Velaye explained. “Especially because it was my 200th win as à trainer so it made the win more special. We have not yet decided where he will race his next start. It will either be at H3R or at Rideau Carleton before he goes in the final.”

The sixth race Preferred-Handicap Pace saw a great finish as Snap Test (Test Flight) and driver Stephane Brosseau sat the two-hole trip as Goldinthebadlands (Jonathan Lachance) cut the mile with stablemate entry Hooter Shooter (Steeven Genois) was first-over and then race favorite Siddhartha (Samuel Fillion) moving three-wide on the final turn.

As the field came down the stretch, Goldinthebadlands began to bear out and that gave Brosseau just enough room to squeeze by on the inside with Snap Test and win by a neck in 1:56. Goldinthebadlands was second with Hooter Shooter third.

It was the third straight win, all at H3R, for Snap Test and his fifth win of the season. He is trainer and co-owned by Jack Reid with Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire. He paid $5.00 to win.

SNAP TEST REPLAY

Track Notes: Stephane Brosseau led all drivers Sunday with a driving triple. Samuel Fillion and Robert Shepherd each had driving doubles. Live racing resumes next Friday, August 26 at H3R with the third leg of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies, post time at 4:00 pm. For more information, click here.

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club