Trotters claim spotlight at H3R in five stakes races

The trotters were in the harness racing limelight at the Hippodrome 3R Friday (July 28) afternoon with five divisions of Quebec-bred stakes for two and three-year-old fillies and colts.

First up in the 3^rd race was the $10,000 second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting fillies and stealing the show was the 3-5 race favorite Dont Treat Me Bad (Resolve).

Driven by the Showman, Jocelyn Gendron, Dont Treat Me Bad wasted little time saying goodbye to her competitors and she trotted away to the early lead and never looked back.

Cutting fractions of :30.2, 1:02.2 and 1:31.4, Dont Treat Me Bad held the field at bay the entire mile, pulling away after the three-quarters and winning in a romp by eight lengths in 2:01.4. Tite Beer En Mass (Guy Gagnon) was second with Duende (Jimmy Gagnon) third.

The time tied Dont Treat Me Bad’s lifetime mark. It was her third win in five starts this year for trainer, owner and breeder, Herve Kirouac of Sherbrooke, Quebec. She paid $3.20 to win.

DONT TREAT ME BAD REPLAY

The 4^th race was the $10,000 opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting fillies and just like Dont Treat Me Bad, Kenogami Queen (Wheeling N Dealin) with driver Stephane Brosseau led from start to finish, winning by two and three-quarter lengths in 2:04.3. Sensi Amnesia (Muscle Mass) was second with JD Beauty (The Bank) was third.

It was the second lifetime start and first win for Kenogami Queen, who is trained by Jack Reid, who also bred the filly with Marie Claude Reid. They co-own her with Mario Menard and she paid $2.70 to win.

KENOGAMI QUEEN REPLAY

After the sixth race the rains came, and the track went from fast to sloppy with a two second allowance.

The 7^th race was the first $7,500 division of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings that saw Wolinak (Wheeling N Dealin) and driver Robert Shepherd collar pacesetter C Un Bon Deal (Jerome Lombart) and take the lead after the three-quarters. Wolinak went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths over race favorite BBC Sportsboy (Marc Belanger) with Timonier (Francis Picard) third.

Trained by Isabelle Darveau, it was the second win this season for Wolinak, who is owned by Douglas McCarth of Holland Landing, ON and paid $6.80 to win.

WOLINAK REPLAY

The 9^th race second $7,500 division saw Kinnder Motown (Muscle Mass) and driver Robert Shepherd become the only two-time winner in the Breeders Trophy Series, winning by three and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.4. Illusioniste Gale (Jerome Lombart) was second with Auguste (Stephane Brosseau) third.

It was the fifth win in seven starts this year for Kinnder Motown, who is trained by Isabelle Darveau for owner Rejean Lemieux of Quebec City and paid just $2.10 to win.

KINNDER MOTOWN REPLAY

The final stakes race on the card was the 11^th race $10,000 division of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Race favorite Rocket Men and driver Stephane Brosseau were the first out of the starting gate and on the lead with Vol De Banque and driver Claude Beausolell sitting the pocket seat.

They raced that way until the backstretch when Wild Dream Men (Kadabra) and driver Guy Gagnon came first-over and that flushed Vol De Banque first-over setting up the three horses three-wide around the final turn.

They raced three-across turning for home with Wild Dream Men the strongest on the far outside, getting up at the finish to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:05.4. Vol De Banque was second with Drinklikehenry (William Roy) third.

WILD DREAM MEN REPLAY

It was the first pari-mutuel start for Wild Dream Men, who is trained by Guy Gagnon for owners Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel. He paid $3.80 to win.

Track Notes: Pascal Berube had the hot hands with a driving quadruple. Robert Shepherd scored a driving triple and Jocelyn Gendron a driving double. Isabelle Darveau had a training double. Live racing resumes at H3R on Sunday (July 30) at 12:00 noon featuring an 11-race card headlined by four divisions of the second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old colt and filly pacers. For a free race program, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club