Trois-Rivieres, QC – The first two-year-old event of the harness racing season in Quebec took place Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R in the second race pace with colts going against filly pacers.
The 1/5 overwhelming favorite, Too Soon BG and driver Francis Picard, took command of the race by the opening quarter mile in a speedy :28.1. Platine Alpha and driver Carol Voyer sat the pocket trip but was six lengths back of the leader as they raced past the half mile in :58.1.
Too Soon BG kept his huge lead on the field until the three-quarters in 1:28.1. That was when Platine Alpha began to close the gap, collaring Too Soon BG and passing him by to win going away by two lengths in 2:00.3. Too Soon BG held for second place with SG Alexia (Sylvain Grenier) third.
It was a record mile for Platine Alpha. The daughter of Control The Moment from the Big Jim mare, Ma Terre, is trained by Sylvain Tremblay and was bred and is owned by the Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan. She paid $7.40 to win.
Driver Carol Voyer made it a driving double as he was able to send Keepall right to the lead in the third race Preferred Trot and wire the field by two lengths in 1:59.1.
Keepall kept the field at bay throughout the race. Race favorite Ice O Late (Francis Picard) came first-over at the half mile marker but could not gain ground on the race leader. EAU Naturelle (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Ice O Late third. Keepall is also trained by Sylvain Tremblay and owned by the Alpha Stable with Gino Curadeau. The six-year-old son of Angus Hall paid $4.80 to win.
Sophies Cam and driver Stephane Brosseau lived up to their favorite status in the sixth race Mares Preferred Pace, leading from start to finish in 1:59.1. It was her third win this season for trainer Carl Duguay. The six-year-old mare by Yankee Cam was bred and is owned by Yvanhoe Landry of Carleton-Sur-Mer. She paid $4.80 to win.
Track Notes: Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R next Friday afternoon, first race post time at 4:00 pm. Next weekend will feature three days of live harness racing action at H3R as the track will race Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Post time Saturday and Sunday is 1:00 pm. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
From the Quebec Jockey Club