Owner, trainer and driver Carol Voyer celebrated his 58th birthday with a 12-1 upset in the co-featured Preferred Trot on Sunday (Nov. 15) at Hippodrome 3R with Sir Chopin ($26.30).
Keepall and driver Pascal Berube shot to the early lead with Sir Chopin and Voyer grabbing the two-hole spot to the opening quarter in :28.1.
Severus Hanover (Stephane Brosseau) started up first-over at the half in :58.3 with Caroluzzo (Stephane Gendron) following live cover. Then, on the turn, Precieuse CC (Claude Beausoleil) was flushed out of third but could not gain on the lead by the three-quarters in 1:28.3, prompting Voyer to angle Sir Chopin out to engage Keepall on the final turn. Those two battled neck and neck down the stretch in a classic battle, with Sir Chopin winning by a half length over Keepall in 1:59.3. Severus Hanover was third.
It was the second win this year for Sir Chopin, a five-year-old gelding by Lucky Foot.
In the fifth race Preferred Pace co-feature, Samuel Fillion and Dreydl Hanover took the lead away from Marracasso (Stephane Gendron) by the first quarter in :27.1. From that point on, Fillion was able to keep Dreydl Hanover in front the rest of the way, controlling half in :56.2 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1. Somewhere Bettor (Jocelyn Gendron) made a valiant first-over move, but could not catch Dreydl Hanover, who went on to win by two lengths in 1:55.3. Somewhere Bettor held for second with the pocket-sitting Maracasso third.
It was the sixth win this year for Dreydl Hanover. The 10-year-old gelding by Cams Card Shark is trained by Yves Tessier for owner François Morin and paid $8.10 to win.
The Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace saw Fillion score a driving double as he won with Wild River Swan ($7.00) in 1:57.4. After taking the early lead from Godiva Mackiavelyc (Voyer), Wild River Swan led the rest of the race, winning by 1-1/2 lengths over Shemaksmefelunreal (Sylvain Lacaille) with Godiva Mackiavelyc third.
Driver Steeven Genois, also celebrating a birthday, won with Choo Choo Blue ($4.50) in 2:01.2.
Both Fillion and Pascal Berube had driving doubles on the program.
Next Sunday is the final race day of the 2020 season at H3R. There will be a special ceremony for the pacer Onyx VA, who, at age 14, will be retired from regular pari-mutuel racing on Jan. 1, 2021. He may be seen again next season, but is only allowed to race in the Québec Regional Fair Circuit. Post time next Sunday is 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3R.ca.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)