Kiss Me Bad beats male rivals again

Despite heavy downpours starting in the post parade, Kiss Me Bad (Badlands Hanover) and harness racing owner, driver Steven Gagnon were able to make a bold, three-wide move in the backstretch en route to winning the Preferred Pace Sunday (June 9) at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

The 10^th race feature saw Twizzer GT (Jonathan Lachance) fire off the gate from post seven to take the early lead with Sports Bettor (Pascal Berube) sitting second until they moved out to take the lead at the opening quarter mile in :28.3.

Already on the move first-over was Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau) and following the cover second-over was Kiss Me Bad. Following third-over was the race favorite, Thong Control (Marie-Claude Auger) as they went by the half mile in :59.4.

As the field entered the backstretch, Gagnon did not want to wait any more and moved Kiss Me Bad three-wide with Thong Control following that cover. The three-quarters was reached in 1:30.1.

Around the final turn and Kiss Me Bad had collared Sports Bettor with Thong Control joining the fray as the three horses battled down the stretch. Kiss Me Bad was once again the strong horse, pulling away at the wire to win by half a length in 1:58.3 over the sloppy track. Sports Bettor held for second with Thong Control third.

KISS ME BAD REPLAY

It was the second straight win for Kiss Me Bad. One of only three mares in the field, Kiss Me Bad is an eight-year-old mare, trained by Daniel Mondou and owned by Steven Gagnon of Sorel-Tracy, Que. She paid a generous $11.60 to win.

“It rained a lot during the post parade,” Gagnon said. “And it was discouraging but the bottom of the track seemed very solid which gave me confidence if the races went well because my mare is not the best in the mud and at the 3/4 I knew what was capable because I had had good cover from Celia Bayama. On the other hand, Pascal’s horse (Sports Bettor) gave a thumbs up at the end and I had them in my sights but feared we may not reach them, but “Kiss” gave me one more effort for the win. I too was very happy with her great strength.”

Track Notes: Both Marie-Claude Auger and Stephane Brosseau had driving doubles. Live harness racing resumes at H3R next Friday, June 14, with first race post time at 4:00 pm. Over the last week two of the top four-year-old pacers that are eligible to the $200,000 Prix d’Ete at H3R August 18, scored impressive victories. Huntinthelastdolar won a leg of the Graduate Series at Mohawk Park in 1:49.2 while Voukefalas won the feature pace Saturday night at the Meadowlands in a lifetime best 1:48.4.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club