Longshot wins Quebec Series in accident marred race

12-1 longshot Orlys Pride (Archangel) and harness racing driver Jocelyn Gendron were able to lead from start to finish in capturing the third preliminary round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older trotters Friday (June 30) at the Hippodrome 3R.

The start of the 9^th race feature saw the race favorite, Frido PV (Jonathan Lachance), become rough gaited right before the start of the race. Lachance tried to get his horse back on gait, backed off the starting gate and then locked wheels with the second-tier horse, Royalty Beer, unseating its driver, Kevin Maguire, who was thrown to the track.

Maguire had crawled off the track after the accident and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. His condition was not yet known at press time.

Orlys Pride and Gendron went right to the lead with Sammy Justice (Francis Picard) following in second past the first quarter in :30. Orlys Pride then led the field to the half mile in 1:00.4 and three-quarters in 1:30.1, holding the field at bay.

On the final turn, Stella Alpha and driver Jimmy Gagnon came three-wide but could not mount enough of a challenge as Orlys Pride went on to win by two lengths in 2:00. Stella Alpha was second with Sammy Justice third.

ORLYS PRIDE REPLAY (WARNING, race video will show accident)

It was the second win in four starts this season for Orlys Pride. He is trained by Paulo Jutras for the Orlando Stables of Lasalle, Quebec and paid $27.80 to win.

The $30,000 final of the Quebec-Bred Series for the top eight point earners will take place at H3R on Sunday, July 9.

Track Notes:  Both Jocelyn Gendron and Francis Picard scored driving doubles on Friday. Live racing resumes Sunday (12:00 noon) at H3R and featured will be the final preliminary round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older pacers. There are both a mares and horse divisions, each racing for $6,500 purses. Featured are Kiss Me Bad (Steven Gagnon) who has won both her series legs so far. The horses are headed by Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau), who won an opening round of the series in 1:54.2. For a free race program for Sunday, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club