Wild Dream Men stays undefeated at H3R

Despite being hung on the outside for half a mile, Wild Dream Men (Kadabra) and harness racing trainer-driver Guy Gagnon stayed the course and kept their unbeaten streak alive in winning at the Hippodrome 3R Friday (Aug. 11) afternoon.

Competing in the 8^th race $10,000 second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and gelding, Wild Dream Men did not have things go his way from the start.

It was Vol De Banque and driver-trainer Claude Beausoleil who was first on the lead with race favorite Wild Dream Men sitting in second place. But Gagnon wanted the lead and tried to get it, but was denied by Vol De Banque and Beausoleil, who forced Wild Dream Men back into the two-hole spot past the first quarter in :30.2.

As they came to the half mile, Vol De Banque was in control in 1:02.4, but Gagnon still had his sights set on Wild Dream Men leading the field and they came back again in the backstretch.

It was a battle for control of the lead and past the three-quarters in 1:32.4, Wild Dream Men finally cleared by Vol De Banque. On the final turn also entering the picture was Drinklikehenry (William Roy) as they were three-wide and gaining ground.

Down the stretch to the wire, Gagnon had Wild Dream Men in full stride and they went on to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 2:03.2. Drinklikehenry was second with Vol De Banque third.

WILD DREAM MEN REPLAY

Now undefeated in his first two starts, Wild Dream Men’s 2:03.2 triumph was a new lifetime mark. The gelding is owned by Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel and paid $2.80 to win.

Also remaining undefeated in the Future Stars Series is Kenogami Queen (Wheeling N Dealin), who actually made a break at the start of her $10,000 division for the trotting fillies, and was able to rebound to win it all.

The 5^th race got underway with Sensi Amnesia (Marie-Claude Auger) taking the early lead with JD Beauty (Robert Shepherd) and then Kenogami Queen in fourth after recovering from her early break at the start.

Then just at the first quarter in :31.2, Sensi Amnesia went off-stride on the lead and that allowed JD Beauty to take the lead and then HP Agathe (Pascal Berube) came on the outside to take command and lead the field to the half mile in 1:03.3.

When the field reached the backstretch, Brosseau made his move with Kenogami Queen but they could not pass by HP Agathe until past the three-quarters in 1:34.4.

From there Kenogami Queen was home free, winning by one length in 2:05.2. JD Beauty was second with Sensi Amnesia finishing third.

KENOGAMI QUEEN REPLAY

It was the second straight win for Kenogami Queen. She is trained by Jean-Francois Maguire, who bred the filly with Marie Claude Reid and they co-own her with Claude Auger. She paid $2.70 to win.

Conquest Seelster (All Bets Off), the lone three-year-old racing against older horses, tore away from the field in the backstretch for trainer-driver Guy Gagnon in the 3^rd race pace and won in a blazing 1:54 romp by fourteen and three-quarter lengths. He paid just $2.60 as the race favorite, winning for the third time this season. His time of 1:54 tied his lifetime mark that was taken at Rideau Carleton.

Track Notes: Stephane Brosseau led all drivers Friday with a triple while both Guy Gagnon and Pascal Berube had driving doubles. Both Gagnon and Jean-Francios Reid had training doubles. Live racing resumes at H2R on Sunday (Aug. 13) featuring the second round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies. There will be one $10,000 division for the colts and two $7,500 divisions for the fillies. First race post time Sunday is 12:00 noon. For a free race program, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club