Trotters plow through sloppy track at H3R

Trois-Rivieres, QC – Despite earlier thunderstorms that left the racetrack sloppy with a two-second allowance, the young harness racing trotters competing in the third and final leg of the Future Stars Series at the Hippodrome 3R on Friday (Aug. 26) plowed on.

There were two $10,000 divisions of the series. The two-year-old colts were up first in the 2^nd race where Kinnder Thinktwice and driver Stephane Brosseau went right to the early lead with Kovid N Lou (William Roy) sitting the pocket seat.

They went by the quarter in :30.3 and the half mile in 1:02 before Timonier (Sylvain Fontaine) came first-over and dropped in behind Kinnder Thinktwice as race favorite, Auguste (Bar Hopping), and driver Pascal Berube went to the outside and kept on going past the three-quarters in 1:33.3.

Auguste cleared to the lead by the final turn and then held off Timonier to win by one and one-half lengths in 2:05. Kinnder Thinktwice was third.

AUGUSTE REPLAY

It was the second win for Auguste, who is trained and co-owned by Dany Fontaine with the Gaetan Bono Stable and Largo Stables of Quebec City. He paid $4.00 to win.

In the $10,000 6^th race division for the trotting fillies, it was HP Run For Dan (Alarm Detector) and driver Robert Shepherd sweeping three-wide at the three-quarters to victory.

Apocalypse Alpha (Pascal Berube) was first on the lead to the quarter in :31, but by the half mile in 1:03.2, race favorite Kenogami Courage and driver Stephane Brosseau took command.

Then at the three-quarters in 1:36.1, Shepherd took HP Run For Dan three-wide and they kept up the pressure all the way around the final turn. As they came down the stretch, HP Run For Dan was much the best, winning by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:07.2. Don’t Treat Me Bad (Jocelyn Gendron) was second with Kenogami Courage third.

HP RUN FOR DAN REPLAY

It was the maiden victory for HP Run For Dan. The filly is trained by Isabelle Darveau for owner-breeders Claude Hamel and Danielle Fournier-Levesque. She paid $7.30 to win.

Four-time Quebec Champion Capteur De Reve (Muscle Mass) and driver Stephane Brosseau were able to grind it out against the filly Stella Alpha (Pascal Berube), taking the lead in the backstretch and scoring a seven-length romp to capture the Preferred-Handicap Trot in 2:01.

It was the fourth straight win for Capteur De Reve, who is trained by Maxime Velaye for the Provoquente Stable of Mirabel that bred and owns the eight-year-old gelding. He paid $5.00 to win as the race favorite.

By the 9^th race the track was listed as fast with a one-second allowance and that was good enough for Platine Alpha (Control The Moment) and driver Jimmy Gagnon to go wire-to-wire at odds of 5-1.

After getting the early lead, Platine Alpha cut the mile to the quarter in :29 and was then challenged first-over by race favorite Coz Im Special and driver Michael Lagace. Those two drew away from the field, racing neck and neck to the half mile in :58.2. In the backstretch, Kiss Me Bad (Steven Gagnon) caught the leaders by the three-quarters in 1:27.4 and made a bold three-wide move, but ended up parked out around the final turn.

In the stretch Platine Alpha found another gear and was able to pull away and win by one and one-half lengths in 1:58.1. Coz Im Special was second with Kiss Me Bad third.

It was the sixth win this year for Platine Alpha. She is trained by Sylvain Tremblay, who’s Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan bred and owns the mare. She paid $12.70 to win.

Track Notes: This was the last Friday card of the 2022 season. Pascal Berube, Stephane Brosseau and Robert Shepherd all had driving doubles. On Sunday there are four divisions of the Future Stars Series third leg with two $7,500 divisions for the colts and two for the filly pacers. Featured are series return winners Little Diamond, Kansas Panic, Godiva Shadow Girl, YS Poisson Davril and Pocahontas Du Lac. First race post time is 12:00 noon. For a free race program, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club