With patience at the start of the race and then getting live outside cover, Maximuscle and driver Mario Charron returned to their winning ways Sunday in the featured trot at the Hippodrome Trois Rivieres.
Having made breaks in three of his last four starts when getting behind the starting gate, driver Mario Charron took his time with Maximuscle at the start of the sixth race feature.
He kept the champion four-year-old son of Angus Hall off the starting gate by 20 yards and once the gate pulled away from the field, Maximuscle closed the gap and got away in fifth place. The race action was fierce from the start as R Rkadabra (Steeven Genois) went to the lead but would not allow Beer Maggs (Kevin Maguire) get to the front and the two sped in a dogfight to the opening quarter mile in a blistering :27.4 before Maguire took Beer Maggs into the second spot on the rail.
There was no rest on the front end for R Rkadabra as Caroluzzo (Stephane Gendron) came first-over heading to the half mile with Charron following their live cover second-over with Maximuscle. Caroluzzo pushed R Rkadabra to the half mile in :57.3 and once in the backstretch, the pressure was too much as R Rkadabra began to fade and Caroluzzo took command with Maximuscle challenging on the outside.
By the three-quarters in 1:27.2, the two horses were neck and neck around the final turn and then in a dramatic stretch drive, Maximuscle was able to wear down Caroluzzo to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. Somoli E (Jerome Lombart) closed to be third.
It was the eighth win in 14 starts this year for Maximuscle. He is trained by Maxime Velaye for owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC and paid $3.60 to win as the wagering favourite.
Just as exciting as the feature trot was the eighth race pace at a distance of one and one-quarter mile with eleven starters in the field.
From the start in the backstretch the fight for control of the lead was a war as Fortune Fever (Steeven Genois) has the rail but was pressured immediately by Charlie Drummond (Daniel Mondou) and from the outside eight post was the 6-5 race favourite, OK Diablo (Denis St. Pierre).
They went to the first quarter in :28.3 as Pierre settled OK Diablo second-over, but after the half mile in :59, Pierre came back with OK Diablo three-wide again, clearing Charlie Drummond, but unable to get past race leader Fortune Fever to the three-quarters in 1:28.4.
Then the action headed up even more as Kesons Reign and driver/trainer Andre Champagne, who had started from post nine in the second tier and had plenty of road traffic, was able to get to the outside and they came three-wide in the backstretch as they pasted the mile marker in 2:00.2.
Kesons Reign was able to clear to the lead by the final turn and then in stretch was still the strong horse, winning by one and three-quarter lengths in 2:31.1. O Diablo was second with Shesbadtothebone (Pascal Berube) third.
It was the fifth win this year for the seven-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty. He is locally owned by Jean Cote and Paul Lacoursiere of Trois-Rivieres, QC and paid $10.60 to win.
(QJC)
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome Trois Rivieres.