Upsets abound in Future Stars Series

Trois-Rivieres, QC – The Hippodrome 3R Friday afternoon (Aug. 12) featured a 15-race harness racing program with seven divisions of the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotters and pacers. And it was also a day for the long shots to come in.

The $10,000 5^th race for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings saw 17-1 Auguste (Bar Hopping) and driver Pascal Berube leave from post seven in the nine-horse field and they were able to clear to the lead over Illusionist Gale (Jerome Lombart) and despite two first-over challenges, was able to wire the field in 2:02, winning by one and one-half lengths. Kinnder Thinktwice (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Illusioniste Gale third.

It was the maiden victory for Auguste after five starts. The gelding is trained and co-owned by Dany Fontaine with the Gaetan Bono Inc Stable and the Largo Inc Stable. Auguste was bred by the Largo Inc Stable and paid $36.50 to win.

In the $10,000 9^th race for two-year-old trotting fillies, another long shot, Tite Beer En Mass (Muscle Mass) and driver Kevin Maguire were able to pull off the upset at odds of 8-1.

The 1/5 favorite, Apocalypse Alpha and driver Pascal Berube shot to the early lead, was up by six lengths going to the half mile with Don’t Treat Me Bad (Herve Kiouac Jr.) sitting the pocket seat far back.

Still leading after the three-quarters, Apocalypse Alpha came wide off the final turn and came to a stop. That allowed Don’t Treat Me Bad to half a slim lead until Tite Beer En Mass and Maquire were able to win by a head in 2:06.1.

HP Run For Dan (Robert Shepherd) was third.

It was the first pari-mtuel win in two starts for Tite Beer En Mass. He is trained by Jean-Francois Maguire and was bred and owned by the Maguire Inc. Stable of Sainte-Marie and paid $18.10 to win.

The 4^th race first $7,500 division for two-year-old pacing colts saw 8-1 Kansas Panic (Sunshine Beach) and driver Francis Picard sweep three-wide at the three-quarters, collared pacesetter Albert Alpha (Pascal Berube) and after the two battled down the stretch, Kansas Panic picked up the win with a neck triumph in 2:02.1.

Albert Alpha was second with Maximus GB (Stephane Brosseau) third.

It was the first pari-mutuel win for the gelding Kansas Panic. He is trained by Francis Picard for owner and breeder Brian Paquet of Quebec City. He paid $19.40 to win.

A favorite finally emerged in 8^th race second $7,500 division for pacing colts as Little Diamond (Sportswriter) and driver William Roy led from start to finish for his third straight win. He covered the mile race in 2:02.1, winning by one and three-quarter lengths and tying his lifetime mark. The pocket-sitting Fablo (Samuel Fillion) was second with YS Cheedar Wheel (Robert Shepherd) third.

Trained by Guy Roy for owner-breeder Richard Desrosiers of Massueville, Little Diamond paid $4.50 to win.

There were three $6,500 divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies and a real shocker took place in the 6^th race first division as Godiva Shadow Girl (Robert Shepherd) saw her win streak end at three-straight.

It was the 4-1 Double Gum (Shadow Play) and driver Guy Gagnon who cut the mile and never looked back, winning with ease by two lengths in 1:58.3. Godiva Shadow Girl was parked first-over and finished second. Ellenski (Pascal Berube) was third.

It was the first pari-mutuel victory in four starts for Double Gum, who is trained and owned by Pierre Longare of Chelsea and she paid $10.10 to win.

The 11^th race $6,500 second division for the pacing fillies saw driver Kiwon Waldron score his first driving triple at H3R as he won with ease aboard YS Poisson Davril (Sportswriter).

Leading from the start, Waldron toyed with the field, backing off the pace, then speeding up when anyone got near them. They went on to win by three open lengths in 2:01.1. Night Jet (Guy Gagnon) was second with Senorita I Am (Francis Picard) third.

It was the first pari-mutuel win for YS Poisson Davril, who is trained by Yannick Martel. She paid $8.80 to win.

Pocahontas Du Lac (Betterthancheddar) was sent off at the overwhelming 1/5 race favorite in the 13^th race $6,500 final division of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing fillies and she raced just as the odds board dictated.

Driver Pierre-Luc Roy sent the filly to front and never looked back, holding the field at bay the entire mile and winning by five and one-half lengths in 2:01.3. The pocket-sitting HP Space Oddity (Stephane Brosseau) was second with River Sena (Mario G Lachance) third.

It was the second straight win and third in last four starts for Pocahontas Du Lac. She is trained by Francis Richard for co-owner Louis-Philippe Roy, Pierre-Luc Roy, Maude Larouche and Jean Allaire. She was bred by LPR and paid $2.50 to win.

Track Notes: Kiwon Waldron led all drivers with a triple, both Pascal Berube, Samuel Fillion and Stephane Brosseau each had driving doubles. For the trainers, both Francis Richard and Jean-Francis Maguire each had a double. There will be no racing this Sunday (Aug. 14) as it is the final weekend of the Grand Prix auto racing in Trois-Rivieres. Live racing will resume next Friday, August 19. For more information, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club