High payoffs continue at Hippodrome 3R

Going into the Sunday afternoon (June 4) harness racing program at the Hippodrome 3R, the Quebec racetrack was featuring the highest win price per race this season at $14.49 per winner. It is one of the highest averages of any track in North America.

And, after the first race on Sunday, that average will continue to rise as 37-1 longshot Playa Duharas (Sunshine Beach) pulled off the upset for catch-driver Jocelyn Gendron, paying $76.30 to win.

The 1^st race was the Mares Preferred Pace which saw Playa Duharas and Gendron leading the way from the start with Shes Got Luck (Jessica Turenne) sitting the pocket trip.

Then first-over Clear The Credit (Steven Gagnon) was just catching up to the leaders at the three-quarters, when Turenne pulled out of the pocket with Shes Got Luck and went on to win by five-and three-quarter lengths in 1:59.3. Playa Duharas was second with Clear The Credit third.

But the judges threw up the inquiry light and ended up placing Shes Got Luck to third place for interference. That vaulted Playa Duharas to first place and Clear The Credit was moved to second place with Shes Got Luck placed third.

It was the first win in four starts this year for Playas Duharas. The seven-year-old mare is trained and owned by Denis Belanger of Levis, QC.

It took the photo finish camera to declare the winner of the 6^th race Preferred Trot.

X O X O (Jocelyn Gendron) went right to the early lead with Fix A Drink (Marie-Claude Auger) leaving from post six and getting the two-hole trip to the first quarter in :29. Then it was the Princess of Trot at H3R, Stella Alpha (Royalty For Life) coming first-over for driver Pascal Berube with Morally Flexible (Stephane Brosseau) second-over and the race favorite Frido PV (Jonathan Lachance) third-over.

After the half mile in :59.4, Stella Alpha kept the pressure on X O X O and wore her down by the three-quarters in 1:29.3. Stella Alpha took over the lead as Frido PV swept three-wide on the final turn.

Stella Alpha dug in coming down the stretch and barely held off Frido PV to win by a nose in 1:59.2. Morally Flexible was also in the photo, finishing third by a half a length.

It was the first win in six starts for Stella Alpha. The four-year-old mare is bred, owned and trained by Sylvain Tremblay’s Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan, QC. She paid $5.00 to win.

The 10^th race Preferred Pace saw a near repeat of last week’s event as this time, Perpetual Rock (Pet Rock) and driver Pascal Berube had the lead by the first quarter and not at the half mile.

Either way it was another stellar effort by Perpetual Rock, who cut easy fractions of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2 before pulling away in the stretch for a two-length triumph in 1:57.1.

Stablemate entry BS Tyrrific (Jimmy Gagnon) sat the pocket-trip to be second with second-over Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) third.

It was the second straight win and third of the year for Perpetual Rock, who is trainer and co-owned by Gina Bragagnolo with Lyne Bragagnolo. The five-year-old gelding paid $2.60 to win.

In the 6^th race winners-over trot, four-time Quebec-Bred Champion Capteur De Reve (Muscle Mass) and driver Stephane Brosseau worked out excellent outside cover to score from in a photo finish. Capteur De Reve won by a head over My Mini Miracle (Simon Delisle) with La Bromontoise (Jerome Lombart) third. Capteur De Reve ($3.00) is now undefeated in two starts for trainer Maxime Velaye and owner-breeder Provoquante Stable of Mirabel, QC.

Track Notes: Pascal Berube continues his quest towards his fourth straight driving title scoring four winners on the Sunday program and Jocelyn Gendron had a driving double. Friday twilight live racing begins next Friday, June 9 at H3R with first race post time at 4:00 pm. For more information, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club