Harness racing driver Marie-Claude Auger was red hot at the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on Friday (Sept. 6), winning half of the ten races on the program, including both of the co-feature events.
The 6thĀ race $5,000 pace, saw Eataams Sportsbaby (Sportswriter) and driver Marie-Claude Auger sweep three-wide from second-over in the backstretch, then get parked three-wide around the final turn and still have enough momentum to beat 30-1 pacesetter BS Tyrrific (Francis Picard) by a length in 1:55.4. Odds On Carmel (Sylvain Fontaine) was third.
EATAAMS SPORTSBABY REPLAY
Ā It was the sixth win this year for Eataams Sportsbaby. The eight-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Denis Audet and paid $14.00 to win.
Then in the 10thĀ race $5,000 co-feature pace, it was dĆ©jĆ vu for Auger as she was second-over with American Zestar (American Ideal) and swept three-wide in the backstretch, clearing to first-over against pacesetter Cyclone Joe (Sylvain Lacaille) by the three-quarters.
Those two battled around the final turn and down the stretch with the pocket-sitting Little Diamond (William Roy) joining the fight to the wire with American Zestar winning by a head over Cyclone Joe in 1:57.1 with Little Diamond third.
AMERICAN ZESTAR REPLAY
It was the third win this year for American Zestar. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Louis Philippe Turcotte for owners Steve Perreault and Johanne Dechamplain and paid $10.40 to win.
It was the first time this season that Auger had five winners on a race program. Pascal Berube is the only other driver to have achieved that mark at this meet.
Track Notes: Along with Marie-Claude Augerās five-win day, Denis Audet had a training double on Friday. Live racing resumes Sunday at 12:00 noon with the 12-race Super Sunday Quebec Championship Finals program. With $508,000 in total purses, it is the richest day of horse racing in Quebec. For free race programs, visit here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club