Hall Bro continued his domination of the $400,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-olds, posting his third straight victory in the series Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R.
The gelded son of Blissful Hall is the only horse left in the series that could make it a clean sweep of all four preliminary rounds and then the $65,000 finals on Sunday, September 7. He has just one more elimination round to win and then the final.
Starting from the rail in the seventh race, second division for pacing colts and geldings, driver Stephane Brosseau was content to leave at the start of the race and get a two-hole trip behind pacesetter My Lucky Bluejeans (Denis St Pierre). Hall Bro followed My Lucky Bluejeans through fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.2 before coming on the attack, collaring My Lucky Bluejeans in late stretch and blowing by him for a one and one-quarter length triumph in 1:56. My Lucky Bluejeans held for second place with Bali (Marie Auger) third.
The win was the fifth in 10 starts this year for Hall Bro. He is trained by Antonio Valente for owner/breeder Fernard Broduer of Laval, Que. and paid a generous $3.40 to win as the betting favourite.
The first race, first division for colt pacers saw Jefferson Tare (Pascal Berube) return to his winning ways after two straight photo finish losses to Hall Bro. Jefferson Tare ($3) led from start to finish for his seventh win in 10 starts this year in 1:57.1. The pocket-sitting D Gs Machbeach (Denis St Pierre) was second with Bad Magic (Mario Charron) third.
The Jeremes Jet gelding is owned by trainer Pierre Leclerc and Gina Bragagnolo, both of Louiseville, Que.
The closest finish in the series took place in the sixth race division for trotting colts with a purse of $8,250 and nine starters in the field. Monster Mass, who raced along the rail in fifth place nearly the entire mile, was able to weave his way through the field at the top of the stretch for driver Claude Larose and post a head triumph in 2:03.3 at odds of 11-1.
Helping the situation was that four of the nine starters made breaks, enabling Larose and Monster Mass access to mount their attack in defeating Jardinier (Marie Auger) in the photo. Pacetter Somoli E (Jerome Lombart) was third.
The win was the fourth on the year for the son of Muscle Mass and his first victory in the series. He paid $24.10 to win. The Justin Blais trainee is owned by Les Ecuries Luc Blais Inc. of Lochaber Ouest, Que. and Catherine Girard of Mayo, Que.
Another long shot prevailed in the second race, first $7,500 division for three-year-old pacing fillies as Thrill Chaser, who was saddled with having to start from the far outside in post position eight, made a superb three-wide move in the backstretch for driver Marie Auger, collared race leader Canaco Xenia (Sylvain Lacalle) at the top of the stretch and then blew the field away in the stretch to win by four and one-half lengths.
Sent off at odds of 13-1, Thrill Chaser certainly lived up to her name, paying $28.80 to win and scoring a lifetime mark of 1:59.4 for Auger, who also co-owns and trains the daughter of Rambaran. Gaston Bibeau of Sorel-Tracy, Que. also shares ownership. Delirium (Stephane Gendron) was second and C L Infinite (David Pilon) finished third.
The ninth race, second filly division saw an oddity of sorts as the race favourite and pacesetter Champagne Shower (Denis St Pierre) took the field to the opening quarter mile in :28, they then cut perfect :30 second fractions the rest of the race of :58 and 1:28 to finish the mile in 1:58 and winning in a romp by eight open lengths. Raiponce (Marie Auger) sat the pocket trip to be second with Tango Bayama (Rheo Filion) third.
The win was the third this year for the daughter of Santana Blue Chip, who is trained by Helene Fillion for owner/breeder Sotirious Anastaopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Que. Champagne Shower paid $2.80 to win.
The third race, filly trot division saw Lucyll Bro ($5.60) and driver Stephane Gendron lead from start to finish by four open lengths in 2:07.1. Bambie Benjo (Rheo Filion) sat the two-hole trip and finished second with Victoria D Morgan (Marie Auger) third.
It was the maiden victory for Lucyll Bro, a daughter of Federal Fleet. She is trained and owned by Marc Lemay of Quebec, Que.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)