Two-year-old pacing fillies were in the spotlight at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Sept. 25), getting tuned up for next week’s Lucien Bombardier Pace, the final stakes race of the year at H3R.
The fifth race was dedicated to two- and three-year-old pacing fillies. Starting from the rail was Pocahontas Du Lac, who last week won the $55,000 Quebec Championship at H3R.
But it was Double Gum and driver Claude Girard, who left the gate like a rocket, with race favourite Pocahontas Du Lac (Pierre-Luc Roy) a gaping pocket sitter to the first quarter in :29.
Coming first-over right away was YS Poisson Davril (Jocelyn Gendron), and they wanted the lead but Girard said no with Double Gum. Meanwhile, Ladycorona and driver Pascal Berube came second-over as they battled up front through the half mile in :59.
As the field entered the backstretch, Berube sent Ladycorona three-wide, followed by Godiva Shadow Girl (Robert Shepherd), and they cleared to the front by three-quarters in 1:28.2.
From that point, Ladycorona started to edge away down the stretch to win by three and one-half lengths in 1:58.2. Godiva Shadow Girl held for second, with Pocahontas Du Lac third.
Sired by Bettors Delight, it was the maiden victory for Ladycorona. She's trained by Yves Tessier for owner-breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Que.
Ladycorona paid $15.90 to win.
Histoire Enchantee (by Shanghai Phil) and driver/trainer Simon Delisle were very determined to win the Preferred Pace.
They took the early lead, then had to give way to Old Buck and driver Francis Picard, and then came back to the lead, not giving up again.
Histoire Enchantee won by three lengths over BS Tyrrific (Berube) with Saskabush Steve (Shepherd) third.
It was Histoire Enchantee’s fourth win in his last five starts. He's owned by Aurelie Delisle of Portneuf, Que., and Raymond Bouffard of Quebec City and paid $5.30 to win.
In the Preferred Pace for mares, it was Arrhythmogenic (by Betterthancheddar) and driver-trainer Daniel St. Pierre who were able to lead from nearly the start to finish and score a two and one-half length triumph in 1:57.3.
Pocket-sitting Shanghaibluebeach (Daniel LaFlame) was second, with Lady My Luck (Francis Picard) third.
It was the second straight win and fourth of the year for Arrhythmogenic, who is also owned by St. Pierre, of Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.
She paid $5.90 to win.
Track notes: Pascal Berube led all drivers Sunday with a triple. Simon Delisle and Pierre-Luc Roy had driving doubles and Louis-Philippe Turcotte and Yves Tessier each posted a training double. Raymond Vachon drove Captain Dragon (Dragon Again) to an upset win in a pace race in 2:00.3 at odds of 43-1, paying $88.80 to win. Stephane Brosseau was taken off his drives Sunday as he was playing in the provincial hockey championship. Live racing resumes next Sunday (Oct. 2) and will feature the $35,000 Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies. Post time Sunday is 12 noon.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R
(Quebec Jockey Club)