Light The Torch sizzles at Hippodrome 3R

Light The Torch (Always B Miki), showed why co-owner and harness racing trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau has kept him eligible to the $200,000 Prix d’Ete at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in August, as the four-year-old pacer scored the fastest win of the young H3R season on Sunday (June 16).

Competing in the 9th race $6,500 Preferred-Handicap Pace, the main event Sunday at H3R, Light The Torch and driver Pascal Berube took the early lead away from Uncontrollable (Marie-Claude Auger) by the first quarter in :28.1.

Light The Torch then cut fractions of :57.2 for the half mile and 1:26.1 to the three-quarters as Auger pulled the pocket with Uncontrollable and came after Light The Torch as they raced as a team around the final turn.

At the top of the stretch, Berube just lifted the lines at Light The Torch and the four-year-old gelding scooted away from Uncontrollable to win with ease by two lengths in 1:54.2. Uncontrollable held for second with Acapulco Sunburn (Francis Picard) third.

LIGHT THE TORCH REPLAY

It was the fastest mile of the season at H3R as Light The Torch notched his fifth win of the season for Marc-Andrea Simoneau and co-owner Jean Fontaine. He paid $2.50 to win.

In the 3rd race $5,000 Preferred II Pace, driver Jessica Turenne made a bold rush with Doc Houston (Sportswriter) to take the lead after the half mile and then held off Sports Better (Denis St. Pierre) in deep stretch for the victory.

Pierre sent Sports Bettor to the early lead over Latte Seelster (Marie-Claude Auger) to the opening quarter in :28.3. Then race favorite Brodys Scrapper (Pascal Berube) was already on the move and took command coming to the half mile in :59.2. Following second-over was Doc Houston and they blasted their way to the front heading into the backstretch.

Sports Bettor also was on the move and sat second to Doc Houston as those two started to pull away at the three-quarters in 1:28.2.

Then in a torrid stretch drive, Doc Houston was able to hold off Sports Bettor to win by a half a length in 1:56.4. Third was Do You See It (Steven Gagnon).

DOC HOLIDAY REPLAY

It was the third win this season for Doc Houston. The five-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Yannick Marquis of Mascouche, Que. and paid $8.90 to win.

Track Notes: Both Marie-Claude Auger and Pascal Berube scored driving doubles Sunday and trainer Marc Andre Simoneau also had a training double and drove a winner in one of the two amateur races on the card. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday, June 21 at 4:00 pm. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here:

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club