Manhattan Joe weaves way to victory

Manhattan Joe (Up The Credit) and harness racing driver Pascal Berube were able to speed up early, then take back, then weave their way to victory lane in the Hippodrome 3R feature pace Friday (Sept. 29).

The 8^th race saw Gringo Star (Steven Gagnon) leave from post five to grab the early lead with race favorite Manhattan Joe and Berube also setting their sights on controlling the pace. But to Berube’s surprise as they came on the outside to take control was that Gagnon was not giving up the lead with Gringo Star and parked them out to the first quarter in :27.2 before Berube was able to backoff Manhattan Joe into the two-hole.

As they passed the grandstand the second time, Express All That (Jocelyn Gendron) came first-over with Flashjack Soleil (Simon Delisle) second-over. Gringo Star led to the half mile in :57.2.

Racing down the backstretch, Delisle moved three-wide with Flashjack Soleil, but was unable to pass Express All That as Gringo Star held them off past the three-quarters in 1:26.3.

Coming off the final turn with horses fanning three and four-wide, Berube emerged from the two-hole with Manhattan Joe, weaved their way to the outside and blew by Gringo Star before the wire to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:56.4. Gringo Star held for second with Mach Play (Maxime Dinelle) third.

MANHATTAN JOE REPLAY

It was the sixth win this year for Manhattan Joe. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Marc-Andre Simoneau for owner Aurel Harvey Et Fils, Inc. and paid $3.10 to win.

Track Notes: Both Pascal Berube and Simon Delisle had driving doubles Friday. Coming up Sunday (Oct. 1) at H3R is Builder’s Day honoring many of the people from Quebec who have been influential in helping promote harness racing in the province and throughout Canada. There will be a special ceremony on the racetrack starting at 11:30 am. On the 12-race card will be two $60,000 Invitational pacing events for horses and for mares in a memorial of the late Brian Paquet plus two $17,500 divisions of the Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies. Standouts in the races include track record holder YS Sensationalcity, Ladycorona, Cadillac Bayama, The Light Speed and Aladdin. For more information and a free race program, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club