Little Diamond sparkles in Future Stars Series

Trois-Rivieres, QC – Little Diamond (Sportswriter) most certainly sparkled the brightest at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday (July 24) in winning one of four divisions of the opening round of the Future Stars Series for harness racing two-year-old pacing colts and fillies.

This was the first of three preliminary rounds in the series. The top eight point earners will return to H3R on Sunday, September 11 for their respective $55,000 finals.

The 4th race was the lone division for the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers with a purse of $10,000 and seven starters.

Albert Alpha and driver Pascal Berube were first on the lead with Kingston Panic (Francis Picard) getting the two-hole seat to the first quarter in :29.1.

Albert Alpha still led the way at the half mile in 1:00 as the race favorite Little Diamond and driver William Roy started up first-over and came after Albert Alpha.

Down the backstretch Little Diamond kept gaining on Albert Alpha past the three-quarters in 1:30.3. At this time Maximus BG (Stephane Brosseau) came second-over to join the pack as they turned for the home stretch drive.

Little Diamond and William Roy were not done yet as they started down the stretch as they pulled away to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:01.3 over Maximus GB with Albert Alpha third.

It was the second straight win for Little Diamond, who is trained by Guy Roy for owner and breeder Richard Desrosiers of Massueville and paid $2.90 to win.

LITTLE DIAMOND REPLAY

Undefeated Godiva Shadow Girl (Shadow Play) continued her winning ways in the 6th race second $6,500 division for the fillies.

With driver Robert Shepherd in the sulky, Godiva Shadow Girl was able to clear to the lead and held the field at bay with a four-length lead through quarters of :28.4, 1:01 and 1:31.2 before coasting to the wire with a two and one-half length triumph in 2:01.1.

Senorita I Am and driver Francis Picard was able to sweep three-wide in the backstretch and gain some in the stretch to finish second. Ladycorona (Samuel Fillion) finished third but had stumbled and made a break on the first turn and caused interference against YS Art Legacy (Kiwon Waldron) and thus was placed fifth by the judges. That promoted HP Space Oddity (Stephane Brosseau) to be placed third.

It was a lifetime mark and the third straight win for Godiva Shadow Girl. She paid $3.60 to win for trainer Lyne Asselin. She was bred and is owned by Raymond Larose of St-Henri-De-Levis.

GODIVA SHADOW GIRL REPLAY

In the 8th race third division for the fillies the race belonged to the 1/9 favorite, Pocahontas Du Lac (Betterthancheddar) and driver Pierre-Luc Roy as they led from start to finish.

Holding the field at bay the entire mile, Pocahontas Du Lac went on to win by three and one-half lengths in 2:02. Got Beach Body (Jonathan Lachance) was second with Shadow Rose (Pascal Berube) third.

It was the second win for Pocahontas Du Lac, who is trained by Francis Richard for owner-breeder Louis-Philippe Roy, who co-owns the filly with his brother, Pierre-Luc, Maude Larouche and Jean Allaire. She paid just $2.10 to win.

POCAHONTAS DU LAC REPLAY

The 2nd race was the first $6,500 division for the two-year-old pacing fillies and YS Sensationalcity (Keystone Velocity) with driver Kiwon Waldron led with ease from start to finish in 2:03.4 by three open lengths. The pocket-sitting Make Bet SBG (Pierre-Luc Roy) was second with All She Can (Samuel Fillion) third.

It was the first lifetime win in three starts for YS Sensationalcity, who paid just $2.10 to win as the 1/9 favorite.

YS SENSATIONAL REPLAY

The 7th race Preferred-Handicap Pace saw 10-1 Goldinthebadlands (Badlands Hanover) and Stephane Brosseau lead from start to finish in 1:56.3, holding off the late charge by race favorite Siddhartha (Pierre-Luc Roy) to win by a half a length. BS Tyrrific (Pascal Berube) was third.

It was the seventh win this year for Goldinthebadlands, who is trained by Marc-Andre Simoneau for the Desjardins Noreau Stable, Marc-Andre Simoneau and Jean Fontaine. He paid $22.30 to win.

Track Notes: Both Francis Picard and Pascal Berube scored driving doubles on the Sunday program. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday with first race post time at 4:00 pm. Featured will be the second leg of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting fillies and colts. For more information, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club