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Siddahartha (So Surreal) and harness racing driver Stephanie Brosseau were able to grind out an impressive first-over score in capturing the Preferred Pace Sunday (May 21) afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R in Quebec.
The 9th race feature started off with Mickeymaksomespeed (Jocelyn Gendron) shooting to the early lead from post seven with Platine Alpha (Jimmy Gagnon) sitting in the pocket-seat to the first quarter in :28.2.
Meanwhile, Siddhartha and Brosseau had started up first-over from before the quarter and following the outside cover second-over was the 3/2 race favorite and return winner D Gs De Vito with driver Jonathan Lachance.
Mickeymaksomespeed held his ground past the half mile marker in :57.3 as Siddhartha was working his way up towards the leaders. In the backstretch, Siddhartha picked up the pace as D Gs De Vito was gapping second-over. Then Mickeymaksomespeed began to tire and Siddhartha took over the lead right at the three-quarters in 1:26.3.
Around the final turn, Siddhartha was strong on the lead with D Gs De Vito trying to make up the lost ground but was unable to as Siddhartha went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:56.3, the fastest mile on the 10-race card. D Gs De Vito was second with Platine Alpha third.
It was the second win in four start this season for Siddhartha. The seven-year-old gelding is trained and owned by Louis Philippe Turcotte of Trois-Rivieres and he paid $7.60 to win.
SIDDHARTHA REPLAY
The first $100+ winner of the season took place in the 8th race pace. The 1/5 favorite Goldinthebadlands (Pascal Berube) had cleared to the lead at the three-quarters with 51-1 longshot CL Big Beach (Sunshine Beach) and driver Maxime Dinelle coming up first-over.
In the stretch drive, Goldinthebadlands locked horns with CL Big Beach and won by a half a length in 1:59. But the Judges ruled that Goldinthebadlands interfered with CL Big Beach in the stretch and placed the 51-1 longshot 1st.
CL Big Beach paid $105.30 to win.
Track Notes: Both Stephane Brosseau and Jonathan Lachance had driving doubles on the afternoon and Yannick Marquis had a training double. Live racing resumes at H3R next Sunday, May 28 with first race post time at 12:00 noon. For more information, visit here.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club
