Newcomer Fortune Playboy showed he is a force to be reckoned with, as driver Gilles Gendron toyed with the field at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday in the featured pace.
Shipping in from Kawartha Downs on a two-race win streak, Fortune Playboy was heard from first once the starting gate pulled away as the five-year-old gelded son of Rambaran shot right to the lead from post six.
To the opening quarter mile in :28.1, Fortune Playboy already held the field at bay as Aarons Mattjesty (Denis St Pierre) was battling with Pieraz (Sylvain Lacaille) for the two-hole spot and won that fight.
Past the half-mile marker in :57.2, Fortune Playboy held command as Pieraz went first-over but could not collar the leader while Aarons Mattjesty followed in the pocket. The contenders held their positions as they reached the three-quarters in 1:26.2.
It was then that Gendron stopped playing with the field and let Fortune Playboy have his head, and they pulled away for a three length victory in 1:56.1 on the off track. Aarons Mattjesty was second with Pieraz third.
Trained by John MacMillan, Fortune Playboy earned his sixth win this year. He is co-owned by MacMillan and 2099551 Ontario Inc. Fortune Playboy paid $4.00 to win.
Gendron and MacMillan also teamed up to win the fifth race pace with Windsun Stetson ($2.90) in 1:59.1.
Driver Denis St Pierre had the hot hands Sunday despite the rain and scored his fourth driving quadruple of the season. He is now just two wins away from scoring his 4,000th career victory.
Coming up this Wednesday evening is the opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. There will be four weeks of elimination competition in July with the top point-earners returning on Sunday, September 6 for their $65,000 finals.
Post time on Wednesday is 7:00 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)