The trotters were in the spotlight at Hippodrome 3R on Friday afternoon (July 28) with five divisions of Quebec-bred stakes for two and three-year-old fillies and colts.
First up in the third race was the $10,000 second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting fillies and 3-5 favourite Dont Treat Me Bad (pictured above) stole the show. Driven by "The Showman," Jocelyn Gendron, Dont Treat Me Bad wasted little time saying goodbye to her competitors as she trotted away with the early lead and never looked back. Cutting fractions of :30.2, 1:02.2 and 1:31.4, Dont Treat Me Bad held the field at bay the entire mile, pulling away after the three-quarters and winning in a romp by eight lengths in 2:01.4. Tite Beer En Mass (Guy Gagnon) was second with Duende (Jimmy Gagnon) third.
The time tied Dont Treat Me Bad’s lifetime mark. The Resolve filly picked up her third win in five starts this year for trainer, owner and breeder Herve Kirouac. She paid $3.20 to win.
The fourth race was the $10,000 opening round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting fillies and, just like Dont Treat Me Bad, Kenogami Queen led from start to finish. The Wheeling N Dealin filly won by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:04.3 with driver Stephane Brosseau. Sensi Amnesia (Marie-Claude Auger) was second and JD Beauty (Pascal Berube) was third.
It was the second lifetime start and first win for Kenogami Queen, who paid $2.70. Trainer Jean-Francois Reid bred the filly with Marie-Claude Reid and they co-own her with Mario Menard.
After the sixth race, the rains came and the track was downgraded from fast to sloppy with a two-second allowance.
The seventh race was the first $7,500 division of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Wolinak and driver Robert Shepherd collared pacesetter C Un Bon Deal (Jerome Lombart) after the three-quarters then went on to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 2:02.3 with race favourite BBC Sportsboy (Marc Belanger) and Timonier (Francis Picard) coming on for second and third, respectively.
Trained by Isabelle Darveau, Wolinak picked up his second win in 14 starts this year. The Wheeling N Dealin gelding is owned by Douglas McCarthy. He paid $6.80 to win.
In the ninth race second $7,500 division, Kinnder Motown and driver Robert Shepherd become the only two-time winner in the Breeders Trophy Series, winning by 3-3/4 lengths in 2:02.4. Illusioniste Gale (Jerome Lombart) was second with Auguste (Stephane Brosseau) third.
The win was the fifth in seven starts this year for Kinnder Motown, a Muscle Mass gelding trained by Isabelle Darveau for owner Rejean Lemieux. He paid just $2.10 to win.
The final stakes race on the card was the 11th race $10,000 division of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Race favourite Rocket Men (Stephane Brosseau) was the first out of the starting gate to take the lead with Vol De Banque (Claude Beausoleil) in the pocket. They raced that way until the backstretch when Wild Dream Men and trainer/driver Guy Gagnon went first-over and that flushed Vol De Banque out setting up the three horses three-wide around the final turn. They raced three-across turning for home with Wild Dream Men the strongest on the far outside, getting up at the finish to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:05.4. Vol De Banque was second with Drinklikehenry (William Roy) finishing third.
It was the first pari-mutuel start for Wild Dream Men, a Kadabra gelding owned by Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel. He paid $3.80 to win.
Pascal Berube had the hot hands with a driving quadruple. Robert Shepherd scored a driving triple and Jocelyn Gendron a driving double. Isabelle Darveau had a training double.
Live racing resumes at 3R on Sunday, July 30 at 12 noon featuring an 11-race card headlined by four divisions of the second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old colt and filly pacers. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)