Make it five straight for Jimbelina

Trois-Rivieres, QC – The six-year-old harness racing pacing mare, Jimbelina, was parked out four-wide in the backstretch and around the final turn, yet the mare showed true grit and fortitude in winning at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday.

Driven by Jocelyn Gendron, Jimbelina won the 6th race F&M Preferred-Handicap Pace by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.2. It was the daughter of Big Jim's fifth straight win and sixth victory of the year.

The sixth race co-feature saw Uptown Woman (Pascal Berube) grind it out to the lead over Sauble Bonnie (Stephane Brosseau) to the opening quarter mile in :27.2.

Then before the half mile in :57.1, Rainbow Palace (Francis Picard) came first-over with Better Now (Stephane Gendron) grabbing the second-over cover and Jimbelina and Gendron, the race favorite, third-over.

The action then picked up in the backstretch as Gendron started up three-wide with Jimbelina only to be shoved four-wide when Better Now, who wanted out to go around Rainbow Palace, who was not done in first-over position.

Jimbelina continued to gain ground despite being four-wide, cleared to the lead at the top of the stretch and then went on to victory. Sauble Bonnie was second with Rainbow Palace third.

Jimbelina is trained by Jean Tourigny for owner Roland Trudel of Becancour and paid $3.30 to win.

It took a long inquiry by the judges before declaring race winner Maracasso (Carol Voyer) disqualified and placed last after skipping over pylons on the final turn in the 7th race Preferred-Handicap Pace for the horses.

Maracasso had gone on the win by four and one-half lengths in 1:55.3 before the disqualification.

Mister Big Top (Jocelyn Gendron), an 18-1 long shot was moved to first place with Surf Report (Tyler Jones) placed second and Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) placed third. Mister Big Top is trained by Yves Tessier and paid $39.30 to win.

Track Notes: Driver Pascal Berube led all horseman on the day with a driving triple. Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R next Sunday, September 22, first race post time at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

From the Quebec Jockey Club