Samuel Fillion explodes for four winners

Trois-Rivieres, QC – Harness racing driver Samuel Fillion, who is just beginning his second year as a professional driver, exploded for four victories Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R, including winning two of the three feature events.

The fastest mile of the year at H3R was set in the ninth race Preferred-Handicap Pace as Fillion sent Dreydl Hanover to the front by the opening quarter mile in :26.2 with Veneno (Stephanie Brosseau) getting the pocket seat.

They raced to the half mile in :56 as Big Petes Style (Daniel Laplante) came first-over to challenge, giving outside cover to Hooter Shooter (Stephane Gendron).

That outside flow could not gain any ground on the leaders as Dreydl Hanover sped to the three-quarters in 1:24.3. From there it was a two-horse race but even with the live cover, Veneno was not up to the challenge as Dreydl Hanover won by two and one-half lengths in 1:54. Mickeymaksomespeed (Jonathan Lachance) closed to be third.

It was the third win this season for Dreydl Hanover and his second straight win in the Preferred class. An 11-year-old gelding by Cam’s Card Shark, Dreydl Hanover is trained by Francis Richard for owner Francois Morin of Beauceville and paid a generous $7.70 for the wagering favorite.

DREYDL HANOVER REPLAY

For Fillion, it was a personal best afternoon with his four winners.

Like a walk in the park, Bucketlist Hanover ($4.20) wired the field in the first race Preferred-Handicap Trot. Driven by Samuel Fillion, Bucketlist Hanover went right to the lead from the rail, cut fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26.4, and held the pocket-sitting Frido PV (Yves St Jacques) at bay, pulling away in the stretch for a two-length triumph in 1:56.1.

The time of the race was the fastest trotting mile this season at H3R. It was the second straight win for Bucketlist Hanover. The eight-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall is trained by Gilles Boucher and for owner Paul Lehoux of Sainte-Marie.

BUCKETLIST HANOVER REPLAY

In the third race Preferred-Handicap Pace for the mares, Y C Easy saw her two-race win streak come to a close as Big Diamond and driver Stephane Gendron were the pocket-rocket in scoring a 1:56.4 triumph.

Shemaksmefelunreal, a 12-1 long shot, left from the rail for driver Marie Claude Auger and cut all the fractions with Big Diamond sitting the two-hole trip.

After leading to the opening quarter in :27.3, Shemaksmefelunreal cut the mile to the half in :58 and then was challenged by Jans Legacy (Stephane Brosseau) first-over with Y C Easy (Jonathan Lachance) second over and the race favorite at 8/5, Topsill Beach (David Pilon) third over.

In the backstretch, Lachance tipped Y C Easy three-wide with Topsill Beach following the outside flow and then going four-wide by the three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Shemaksmefelunreal was still the strong horse starting down the stretch. It was then that Stephane Gendron pulled from the two-hole trip with Big Diamond and came after Shemaksmefelunreal, collaring her before the wire to win by a long neck. Topsill Beach closed well to be third.

BIG DIAMOND REPLAY

It was the first win of 2021 for Big Diamond. The four-year-old mare by Big Jim is trained and owned by Isabell Darveau of Flamborough, Ontario and paid $10.40 to win.

An accident marred the fourth race pace after the 1/8th pole when Bellafornow broke stride and fell to the track (they were in fourth place) with driver Francis Picard. That caused a chain-reaction as the rest of the field ran into the accident.

Two drivers, Marie Claude Auger and David Pilon, were taken by ambulance to the hospital. It was reported that Marie Claude Auger had a possible concussion and David Pilon a possible broken ankle. Driver Mario Cote injured his foot but did not go to the hospital.

The race was declared No Contest immediately by the Judges and all wagers were refunded.

Track Notes: Fillion was the only driver or trainer to score more than one win on the afternoon. Next week there will be no Friday race program. Instead, the Hippodrome 3R will host a Saturday race program starting at 12:30 pm featuring the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

From the Quebec Jockey Club