Trotters shine in Quebec-Bred Series at H3R

Both Frido PV (Muscle Mass) and Seeyou Men (Muscle Mass) were at their best capturing their respective harness racing divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series for older trotters at the Hippodrome 3R Friday (June 23). Each winning their $6,500 divisions in identical times of 1:58.3.

Both trotters will now headline the $30,000 Championship Final for older horses and mares at H3R on Sunday, July 9.

Frido PV went off as the overwhelming 1/9 favorite for driver Jonathan Lachance and the six-year-old stallion did not disappoint. He left from post four and led the field with Capteur De Reve (Stephanie Brosseau) sitting on their backs, through fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.1 to the half mile.

Royalty Beer and trainer-driver Kevin Maguire were late off the gate and started up first-over as they raced to the backstretch, but they were unable to collar Frido PV as he let out a notch after the three-quarters in 1:28.4. He held the field at bay down the stretch, winning by two and one-half lengths over Capteur De Reve with Royalty Beer third.

It was the third straight win and fifth in just six starts on the year for Frido PV. He has been trained since a foal by Yves St Jacques and was bred and is owned by Marcel Brouillard. He paid just $2.20 to win. Frido PV is the winningest horse at H3R this season with his five wins.

FRIDO PV REPLAY

In the fourth race first division of the Quebec-Bred Series it was former Quebec Champion Seeyou Men, now 11-years-old, showing his heels to his younger rivals for driver-trainer Guy Gagnon.

A champion back in 2015 & 2016, Seeyou Men started from post three in the 4^th race co-feature and Gagnon sent the trotter right to the front. They were challenged early by return winner Orly’s Pride (Jocelyn Gendron), who quickly took the two-hole seat.

Seeyou Men cut the mile to the quarter in :28.4, backed it down at the half mile to 1:00.4. And then in the backstretch, driver Robert Shepherd came charging up first-over with Only For Justice and collared Seeyou Men in the backstretch at the three-quarters in 1:29.1 and then Only For Justice went off-stride and was out of the race, leaving second-over Ciel Bleu (Stephane Brosseau) first-over.

That left Seeyou Men alone on the lead and they were able to coast home to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:58.3. Orlys Pride was second with Ciel Bleu third.

SEEYOU MEN REPLAY

It was the fourth win this year for Seeyou Men, who was bred by Chantal Gravel and co-owns with Catheline Pelleteir. He paid $4.40 to win and it was his 45^th career win.

Track Notes: Jocelyn Gendron was the only horseman to score in double figures as he had a driving double Friday. Live racing resumes at H3R on Sunday afternoon starting at 12:00 noon. Featured will be two divisions of the final preliminary round of the Quebec-Bred Series for the pacers. The older horses have Aladdin going against Mickeymaksomespeed while the mare’s division has two-time winner Kiss Me Bad against Lili GL and Platine Alpha. For a free race program for Sunday, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club