Ladycorona sizzles at H3R in Breeders Trophy Series

Despite earlier rainstorms that ended at the start of the race program, making the track rated good with a two second allowance, Ladycorona (Bettors Delight) was at her best in capturing her division of the Breeders Trophy Series Sunday (July 16) afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R.

There were four divisions of the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacing fillies and colts. The top eight point earners after three preliminary rounds will return on Sunday, September 10 for their respective $65,000 finals.

Each of the four divisions races for a purse of $7,500.

Ladycorona started from post three in the 6^th race second division of the series for the fillies. With driver Pascal Berube in the sulky, Ladycorona sped to the lead right off the starting gate with GA Speed Matrix (Alain Carrier) sitting in second to the first quarter in :28.3.

Ladycorona led the field to the half mile in an easy 1:00.4 before YS Sensationalcity (Jocelyn Gendron) came first-over to challenge and pressed the pace to the three-quarters in 1:29.3.

Ladycorona and Berube then said goodbye to the field and opened up in the stretch to win in a romp by six and one-half lengths in 1:58.4. YS Sensationalcity was second with GA Speed Matrix third.

LADYCORONA REPLAY

It was the third win this year for Ladycorona, who is trained by Yves Tessier for owner-breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Quebec. She paid $2.50 to win.

In the 4^th race first division of the series for pacing fillies, Godiva Ice Cream (Shadow Play) and driver Robert Shepherd were able to withstand coming first-over against Irish Mary (Pascal Berube) and come on in the stretch to win by one length in a lifetime mark of 2:00. Pocahontas Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) was second with Irish Mary third.

It was the first pari-mutuel victory in four starts for Godiva Ice Cream. She paid $15.60 to win for trainer Lyne Asselin and owner-breeder Raymond Larose of St-Henri-De-Levis.

GODIVA ICE CREAM REPLAY

The 3^rd race first division for the colts saw Bets Beach (All Bets Off) stay undefeated with his second straight win. He was parked first-over from the half mile for driver Pascal Berube against pacesetter Little Diamond (William Roy) and kept on grinding it out down the stretch to win by a head in 2:00.4. Little Diamond was second with Attitude (Stephane Brosseau) third.

Trained by Yves Tessier, Bets Beach is co-owned by Gina Bragagnolo, Yves Tessier, Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire. He paid $10.10 to win.

BETS BEACH REPLAY

The 7^th race second colt division was won by Kansas Panic (Sunshine Beach), who had to make a three-wide move in the backstretch for driver Robert Shepherd, was parked out the entire final quarter and still was able to come on and win going away by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:00. Fantome En Joie (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Maximus BG (Jocelyn Gendron) third.

It was the first win in two starts this year for Kansas Panic. He is trained by David Pilon for owner-breeder Brian Paquet of Quebec City. He paid $7.10 to win.

KANSAS PANIC REPLAY

The fastest mile on the day came in the 9^th race Preferred Mares Pace where Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau) was able to hold off the first-over charge by Kiss Me Bad to win by a half a length in 1:56.1. Arrhythmogenic (Marie-Claude Auger) was third.

It was the second win this year for Celia Bayama, who paid $5.30 to win.

Track Notes: Pascal Berube ended the day with a driving triple while both Francis Picard and Robert Shepherd had driving doubles and Yves Tessier had training double. Live racing resumes on Friday, July 21 when H3R will host the opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies. First race post time is 4:00 pm. For more information, visit here. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club