Maracasso and trainer/driver Carol Voyer were able to steamroll over the field to capture the Preferred Pace at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Sept. 22).
The feature first saw Ninoscredit and driver Stephane Gendron leave from the rail for the early lead. Voyer also had Maracasso on the move from Post 4, but Gendron was not going to let them get to the lead with ease and parked them out to the opening quarter mile in :27.1.
Voyer pressed the issue with Maracasso and they took command by the half mile in :55.1. From that point on, Maracasso took off, leading the field by three lengths in the backstretch.
Maracasso was still in command at the 1:24 three quarters. Stock and driver Pascal Berube moved three wide in the backstretch and was able to get behind Maracasso and gave a game effort, closing within a half length as Maracasso went on to win in 1:54.4. Ninocredit finished second.
Maracasso (#4) holds off Stock at H3R on Sunday, September 22, 2019.
The victory was the seventh win this year for Maracasso. The seven-year-old gelded son of Lis Mara is owned by the Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan. He paid $5.40 to win.
Jimbelina, the lone mare in the field, saw her five-race win streak come to close, finishing fifth.
The Filly & Mares Preferred Pace saw Uptown Woman ($6.30) and driver Pascal Berube pull the pocket on pacesetter Sauble Bonnie at the three-quarters and then scoot away from the field to romp by six and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.
After overcoming going wide into the first turn, Solid Man ($3.40) was an easy winner in the Two-Year-Old Open Pace and wired the field by two and one-half lengths in 1:59.2.
Histoire Enchantee ($2.10) continued his remarkable comeback after being away from the races for nearly two years. He won in 1:56.4 for his third consecutive win. He was driven by Stephane Gendron for trainer Maxime Velaye.
Francis Picard led all the drivers with a triple and H3R's leading trainer, Francis Richard, sent out two winners.
Track Notes: The final stop of the Regional Fair Circuit in Quebec took place Saturday at Ormstown. The track record for a one and a half-mile race was broken by the pacer Hooter Shooter, who won in 3:11.1 for driver Sam Filion and owner/trainer Marc Andre Simoneau. The old record was 3:12.3 set by Strokin (LPR) on July 16, 2016. This was the fifth track record broken this year on the circuit. Next Sunday, H3R will host the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit Championships.
To view the harness racing results for Saturday at H3R, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)