This Sunday (September 10), eight two-year-old pacing fillies will battle it out at Hippodrome 3R in the annual Lucien Bombardier Stakes, which this carries a purse of $38,500.
This year the field is highlighted by four return winners in the Race 8 feature.
One of the pioneers of horse racing in Canada, but especially Quebec, Lucien Bombardier devoted his entire life to the industry. Born and raised near Bedford, QC, Bombardier retired in 1992 after 16 years on the board of directors of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society (CSHS).
The following year, at age 86, Bombardier became the first honourary director of the CSHS. His appointment by the board of directors in January 1993 was in recognition of achievement and contribution to the society and the Standardbred industry.
Bombardier was also honoured in 1985 when he was recognized for his lifelong devotion to the industry as the recipient of the society’s General Achievement Award for his excellence, leadership and contribution to the breeding industry, and by his election into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame the following year.
Bombardier started training and driving harness horses at agricultural fair meetings in Quebec at an early age. In the early 1940s, he left a business career to open a large racing stable at Richelieu Park in Montreal, and in 1953 he accepted an executive position with Blue Bonnets.
During 25 years in racetrack management he played a role in developing many changes and innovations that helped make harness racing a major sport industry and earned him an enviable reputation on both sides of the border. He also served as a director of Harness Tracks of America and the Canadian Trotting Association.
At age 68, Bombardier retired from Blue Bonnets and embarked upon a new career when he became an executive with Angus Farms in Bedford, QC, one of the province’s most successful breeding establishments.
Bombardier passed away in 1995 and was honoured each year at the Hippodrome de Montreal with the running of the Lucien Bombardier Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.
With sponsorship from Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club, the Hippodrome 3R revived the stakes race in 2011.
This year’s stakes event features Azure Seelster, who will start from Post 4 for driver Louis-Philippe Roy. The daughter of Shadow Play has already won three of her six starts for trainer Jacques Dupont. In just her last start she won a division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots at Mohawk Racetrack in 1:54.3 by three and one-half lengths. Earlier this season at Grand River Raceway’s half mile oval, Azure Seelster took her lifetime mark with a 1:54.3 score.
Azure Seelster is part of a three-horse entry with Miss Rockadali (Post 5) and Katniss S BG (Post 7) who are both trained by Yves Filion. Miss Rockadali is the weakest of the entry, but Katniss S BG was second last week in the $55,000 Future Stars Series and prior had won two preliminary rounds of the series.
Lit De Rose is the second choice in the race, and rightly so. The daughter of Leader Bayama, trained by Maxime Velaye and owned and bred by Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, is on a three-race winning streak.
Her victory last week was the biggest win of her early career – three wins from just five starts. Last week she led from start to finish over a ‘sloppy’ track at H3R to capture the $55,000 Future Stars final. She did it in 2:02, but the following start showed she can also win in 1:59.1. Lit De Rose will be driven by Pierre Luc Roy.
A newcomer to H3R, Cold Creek Lacey, will start from Post 2 for driver Stephane Brosseau. In her last start, the Shanghai Phil filly wired the field at Kawartha Downs in 1:58. She is trained by Craig Barssi.
Kiss My Shadow is the fourth return winner and has been saddled with Post 8 for driver Guy Gagnon and trainer and co-owner Chantal Mitchell. Last week at Flamboro Downs, Kiss My Shadow took a lifetime mark of 2:00.4.
Completing the field will be D Gs Shadowbell (Post 1), who has won three of her last four starts for driver Jonathan Lachance, and Liisawithtwoeyes, who will start from Post 3 for driver Stephen Gendron and trainer Francis Richard.
Post time is 12:30 p.m. and for a free race program or information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
(Quebec Jockey Club)