Trois-Rivieres, QC – Despite racing over a rain-soaked harness racing track with a two-second allowance, Hammering Haley was at her best on the front end, capturing the Mares Preferred-Handicap Pace at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday.
It was the race favorite, Wild River Swan (Francis Picard) who took the early over Hammering Haley and driver Pierre Luc Roy by the opening quarter mile in :29.1. The lead changed right away as Roy quarter-moved with Hammering Haley to take command.
They went by the half mile marker in :59.3 as D Gs Fairystars (Stephane Brosseau) was first-over to challenge and following the outside flow second-over was Godiva Mackiavelyc (Stephane Gendron).
D Gs Fairystars tried her best but could not pass by Hammering Haley past the three-quarters in 1:29. At this point Wild River Swan was boxed in behind Hammering Haley.
Then, as they started down the stretch, daylight opened on the rail and Wild River Swan came charging through, but it was too late as a determined Hammering Haley held off Wild River Swan, winning by a head in 1:59.4. Way Over (Simon Delisle) was third.
It was the third win this season for Hammering Haley. The five-year-old mare by Shanghai Phil is trained and co-owned by Francis Richard with Gaston Bibeau and Charles Marquis. She paid $6.90 to win.
In the fourth race Two-Year-Old Pace, Realxample, a colt by So Surreal, upset the field at odds of 6-1, using two moves and some true grit in the victory.
Loud (Marc Bellanger) shot right out to the early lead with Realxample leaving for driver Richard Veilleux and grabbing the two-hole spot by the opening quarter mile.
Loud led the field past the half and through the backstretch when Veilluex vacated the pocket trip with Realxample to come after Loud. Those two raced neck and neck around the final turn and down the stretch until Realxample wore the pacesetter down and won by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.3. Full Power Sena (Steeven Genois) was third.
It was the maiden victory for Realxample after five lifetime starts. He is trained by Alain Veilluex and owned by La Ferme Drummond, Inc. of Saint-Hugues and paid $15.40 to win.
Track Notes: The Hippodrome 3R will have a full weekend of live harness racing next week as the track hosts the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit on Saturday. Friday post time is 4:00 pm and Saturday/Sunday post time is 1:00 pm. Next Sunday kicks-off the Quebec-Bred stakes with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old colt and filly pacers. There are three rounds of preliminary competition for each age, sex and gait. There will be $65,000 finals for the three-year-old’s and $55,000 finals for the two-year-old’s, all being held on Sunday, September 27. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
From the Quebec Jockey Club