Trois-Rivieres, QC – Mickeymaksomespeed rebounded from his miscue last week and crushed a field of older harness racing pacers Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R.
One of only two three-year-old's in the seventh race, Mickeymaksomespeed and driver Steeven Genois bided their time as City Of The Year (Dany Mainguy), Outlaw Turn N Burn (Francis Picard) and Stock (Pascal Berube) all battled it out for control of the race.
Once past the opening quarter mile in :27.3, it was Stock in front with Outlaw Turn N Burn sitting the pocket trip. Then at the half mile marker in :56.4, it was Mickeymaksomespeed and Genois coming first-over and breezing to the lead.
Mickeymaksomespeed held nothing back, pulling away from the field at the three-quarters in 1:25.2 and cruising to a 1:54.3 triumph. The other three-year-old in the field, Eclat De Rire (Stephane Gendron), was parked out four-wide on the final turn and was able to close to be second by three and one-half lengths. Blackjack Soleil (Eric Beausoleil) was third.
It was the eighth win in ten starts for Mickeymaksomespeed. The son of Mickey Hanover was bred and is owned and trained by Michel Allard of Saint-Espirt and paid $7.50 to win.
Both Mickeymaksomespeed and Eclat De Rire were prepping for next week's $65,000 Breeders Trophy Series Final where the two will battle one again. It is Super Sunday in Quebec with eight championship finals and $500,000 in purses, the richest day of racing for the year in Quebec.
Sunday was National Caretaker Appreciation Day at the Hippodrome 3R. A blanket for each winning horse and gift bag for the groom was presented in each race. Every groom in the race paddock received a coupon for a free meal at the Paddock Restaurant and every groom was mentioned by name in the post parades.
There were two races for two-year-old's Sunday. The 5th race pace saw SOS Faline ($29.10) and driver Stephane Brosseau sweep three-wide in the backstretch, stayed parked out past the three-quarters and around the final turn yet the daughter of Sportswriter showed true grit, coming on in the stretch to win by a half-length in 2:00.2. Brosseau is the trainer.
The colt pace in race one was action-packed from the start as Godro Outofhisway (9.40) with driver Pierre-Luc Roy left out of the gate and never looked back. The Light Speed (Simon Delisle) tried early to get the lead away but had to settle for the pocket-trip. Godro Outofhisway then held the field at bay, winning by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:02. He is sired by Betterthancheddar and trained by Charles Gaudreault.
Track Notes: Pierre-Luc Roy had the hot hands at H3R Sunday, scoring a driving triple. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday afternoon with first race post time at 4:00 pm. Quebec Super Sunday with eight championship finals for two and three-year-old trotting and pacing colts and fillies, is set for September 27. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
From the Quebec Jockey Club