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Sunday afternoon (Oct. 6), the Quebec Jockey Club will host two $51,000 harness racing divisions of the second annual Brian Paquet Memorial at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) and it is anyone’s guess as to who will win either of the Invitational pacing events.
The two divisions are named after longtime Quebec horse owner, breeder and pioneer of Standardbred racing in Canada, Brian Paquet.
Also on the Sunday card are two $15,100 divisions of the Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies that is co-sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club.
It’s Builder’s Day at H3R Sunday and in addition to honoring both Paquet and Bombardier, also being honored at the track will be Marcel Lacaille, Jean-Claude Martineau and Léo Tourigny, all of whom have been instrumental is helping promote the industry in Quebec.
The 10th race first division of the Paquet for older horses, Cadillac Bayama (Sunshine Beach), who last year won the inaugural Brian Paquet Memorial and is a former Quebec-Bred Champion, goes from the far outside in post eight for driver Robert Shepherd. In his last start at Yonkers Raceway, he was second timed in 1:52.1.
Although winless in his eight starts, Jack Panic (post 7) is the morning line favorite for driver Marie-Claude Auger. The Mohawk Park invader was second two starts back, timed in 1:49.
Fortify (post 5) is another major contender and will be driven by Louis-Philippe Roy. Roy captured all three of the major stakes races last year on this day. Fortify has won three of his last five starts, the fastest a lifetime mark of 1:49.1 two starts back.
Other contenders include Uncontrollable (post 4), who jumps up in class off two straight wins at H3R, the fastest a 1:53.4 triumph, The Light Speed (post 2) comes into the race off a 1:53 triumph at Rideau Carleton, his 12th win of the season and another local favorite, Light The Torch (post 1) was second to rival The Light Speed last week by a head in that 1:53 mile.
The older mares do battle in the 11themrace $51,000 Brian Paquet Memorial. YS Sensationalcity (Keystone Velocity), who was second last year in the inaugural Paquet Morial, heads the field from post six and sports five wins this year. She will be driven by William Roy.
Her main rivals will be Jimbelina (post 3), Kiss Me Bad (post 4) and Annas Wish (post 5).
The Lucien Bombardier two $15,100 divisions are races 4 and 6. Featured is Ontario newcomer Jenny Longlegs (post 3) in the 6th race for trainer-driver Guy Gagnon taking on Simply The Best (post 4), who has won her last two starts and Ibetyouakiss (post 5), who has been second in photos the last two starts at Rideau Carleton, the fastest timed in 1:57 and recent Quebec-Bred Champion Mirabel Enfete (post 1).
The 4th race first division is headed by Silver Majesty (post 1), who has been second or first in her last six starts. She takes on Mystic Moment (post 3) who has won two of her last three starts and the good filly Justine Ray (post 2).
On Saturday afternoon, H3R hosted the finals of the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit.
The feature race was the 6th, an Open-Handicap Pace, that saw Sports Bettor (Sportswriter) and driver Kevin Maguire take the early lead away from N C Rockabye (Marc Lemay) by the opening quarter in :28.2. Sports Bettor led the field to the half mile in :58.4 as race favorite Frozen Hanover (Marie-Soleil Dubois) coming first-over from the start, battled with Sports Bettor through the three-quarters in 1:28.2.
Around the final turn and down the stretch, Sports Bettor dug in and was able to hold off Frozen Hanover to win by a neck in 1:58.2. Mach N Blue Cheez (Jackson Barrette) was third after a bold, three-wide move in the backstretch.
It was the fourth win this season for Sports Bettor. The 12-year-old gelding is trained by Mario Grimard, who co-owns the horse with the Maguire Stable. He paid $6.90 to win.
SPORTS BETTOR REPLAY
Track News: Trainer-driver Dany Mainguy celebrated his 57th birthday in grand style Saturday, driving Woodmere Macerena to victory in the 5th race pace in 2:00.2 and paid $6.20 to win as the betting favorite. Post time Sunday is at 12:00 noon. For more information and free race programs, visit here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club
