Trois-Rivieres, QC – The Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies got underway at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday with four $7,500C opening round divisions.
After three weeks of preliminary competition, the top eight point earners in the series will return to H3R on Sunday, September 8 for their respective $55,000C finals.
The fastest of the four divisions came in the sixth race, the second colt division as Ontario invader, My Bettors Del, had an easy time wiring the field.
Leaving from post five for driver Stephane Brosseau, My Bettors Del out kicked Eclat De Rire (Stephane Gendron) for the early lead by the opening quarter mile in :29. From there he cut fractions of :59.2 and 1:30, holding the field at bay. He won by three lengths in 1:59.1. Eclat De Rire was second with Kinnder Big Boss (Justin Filion) third.
Trained by Jacques Dupont, My Bettors Del is a colt by Bettors Delight, who is co-owned by Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation with the breeder, Jam Auden, Inc. of Portneut. He paid the mandatory $2.10 to win. It was his first pari-mutuel win in four starts.
The first colt division was the third race and there was little doubt on who the winner would be. The race fans made Whitecookie and overwhelming 1/9 favorite and he raced just like it.
Starting from the rail for driver Marie Claude Auger of Trois-Rivieres who also trains and owns Whitecookie, the son of Windfall Blue Chip, went right to front, held the field at bay the entire one-mile race and went on to win by four and one-half lengths in 2:01.2. Retour Au Jeu (Stephane Gendron) was second with PLD Needy (Stephane Brosseau) third.
It was the third straight win for the unbeaten Whitecookie. He paid just $2.20 to win.
The rain clouds opened up for the fourth race, the second Breeders Cup division for fillies, making the track labeled "good". That had no effect on Acaena De Chakrika.
The daughter of Sunshine Beach, with Stephane Brosseau in the sulky, came first-over early to grab the lead by the opening quarter mile and led the rest of the race, winning by one length in 2:02.2.
SOS Cupcake and driver Daniel Laflamme made a race of it, coming after Acaena De Chakrika on the final turn, but could not collar the race winner and was second. Three Star Sena (Pascal Berube) was third.
It was the first victory for Acaena De Chakrika, who is trained by Daniel Martin and was bred and is owned by Diane Lepine of Quebec City. She paid $6.00 to win.
In the second race, the first Future Stars division for the fillies, a real battle ensued in the backstretch as Cant Fight Fate (Tyler Jones) was on the lead and Lotus Sena was sitting in the two-hole for driver Pascal Berube when Berube decided to come first-over.
Cant Fight Fate went head and head with Lotus Sena, but on the final turn, Lotus Sena took command and went on to win by two lengths in 2:03.4. Cant Fight Fate was second with Whitemountain Ruby (Francis Picard) third.
It was the maiden victory in three lifetime starts for Lotus Sena. The daughter of Windfall Blue Chip is trained by Serge Nadeau of Scott, who also bred and owns Lotus Sena. She paid $9.80 to win.
Track Notes: Carol Voyer led all drivers and trainers Sunday, sending out and driving two winners. Driver Stephane Brosseau also had a driving double, winning two of the Future Stars divisions and Pascal Berube had a driving double.
As part of National Caretakers Apperception Day, the name of every groom was announced in the post parade. Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Friday evening, July 26 with the second leg of the $470,000C Breeders Cup Series for three-year-old trotters. The pacers go on Sunday.
For more information, a free race program or to view the races live at H3R, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club