Only For Justice romps in $30,000 Quebec Final

Only For Justice (Justice Hall) was the most impressive winner of the three $30,000 Quebec-Bred Finals for older trotters and pacers Sunday (July 9) afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

The 4^th race final for older trotters saw the morning line favorite, Frido PV, scratched from the race, which turned it into a wide-open affair right from the start.

Race favorite Capteur De Reve, who was going for an unpresented fifth Championship Final victory, left from post six for driver Guy Gagnon and shot right to the lead on the first turn. With Orlys Pride (Jocelyn Gendron) getting the two-hole trip, Capteur De Reve tripped the teletimer at the quarter mile in :28.2.

Looking comfortable on the lead, Capteur De Reve led to the half mile in :58.2 as Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube), the lone mare in the field, came first-over with Only For Justice (Robert Shepherd) second-over.

Then, in the backstretch, Shepherd sent Only For Justice three-wide and they not only cleared the field, but blew by Capteur De Reve at the three-quarters in 1:28. And Only For Justice did not stop there as Shepherd let him have his head and he tore away from the field in the stretch, winning by ten and three-quarter lengths in 1:57.4. Capteur De Reve was second with Sammy Justice (Francis Picard) third.

ONLY FOR JUSTICE REPLAY

It was the first win in four starts this year for Only For Justice. It was also the third Quebec Championship for Only For Justice, who won the final as a two-year-old in 2015 and as a three-year-old in 2016. He is trained by Linda Belanger for owner/breeder Gaetan Bono, Inc. of Laval, Quebec. He paid $5.30 to win. The time of race, 1:57.4, is the fastest trotting mile this season at H3R.

Then came the 8^th race $30,000 final for pacing mares.

Celia Bayama started from the rail and was the even money favorite. She left from the gate for driver Stephane Brosseau and went right to the early lead with Lili GL (Pascal Berube) sitting the pocket-seat to the first quarter in :28.

Then Fancy Girl (Jonathan Lachance) started up first-over with Platine Alpha (Jimmy Gagnon) second over and Kiss Me Bad (Badlands Hanover) and driver Steven Gagnon third over as they passed the half mile in :57.4.

Heading into the backstretch, Jimmy Gagnon sent Platine Alpha three-wide and then Steven Gagnon went four-wide with Kiss Me Bad and they were able to clear by the field start after Celia Bayama after the three-quarters in 1:27.3.

Then Kiss Me Bad and Celia Bayama locked horns and raced as a team around the final turn and down the stretch where Kiss Me Bad finally wore down Celia Bayama to win by a long neck in 1:55.4. Lili GL was third.

KISS ME BAD REPLAY

It was the third win in six starts for Kiss Me Bad. The seven-year-old mare is trained and owned by Steven Gagnon of Sorel-Tracy, Quebec and she paid $8.20 to win.

In the 10^th race final for the older horses, Aladdin and driver Stephane Brosseau left from post six and easily got to the lead with Cyclone Joe (Sylvain Lacaille) getting the two-hole trip to the first quarter in a speedy :26.4.

At the half mile, Aladdin tripped the teletimer in :55 as the race favorite, The Light Speed (Moon Beam) and driver-trainer Guy Gagnon, moved up first-over and by the backstretch dropped into third place for a quick breather.

At the three-quarters in 1:23.3, Gagnon came first-over with The Light Speed and started to gain ground on Aladdin. Those two would tangle down the stretch with The Light Speed coming on to win by two and one-quarter lengths. Aladdin was second with Cyclone Joe third. Time of the mile was 1:53. It was the fastest pacing mile of the year at H3R.

THE LIGHT SPEED REPLAY

For The Light Speed, it was his third straight win and ninth victory of the year for the five-year-old gelding who is owned and was bred by Michel Nolette of Princeville, Quebec. The winner paid $2.70 to win. He now has 37 career victories.

The very first race provided the beginning excitement for the afternoon as Mach N Cheddar (Betterthancheddar) scored the highest win price of the race season at 54-1 odds. Trainer-driver David Pilon drove the winning maiden three-year-old filly pacer to a two-length triumph in 1:59.3 and paid $111.80 to win.

Track Notes: Both Guy Gagnon and Pascal Berube had driving doubles and Gagnon also had a training double on Sunday. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday at 4:00 pm with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club