Trois-Rivieres, Quebec – Champagne Phil will put his four-race winning streak on the line Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome 3R. The five-year-old harness racing gelding headlines one of two divisions of the final elimination round of the $125,000 Quebec-Bred Series for older pacing horses and mares.
Sired by Shanghai Phil, Champagne Phil is the 5/2 morning line favorite in the third race Sunday. He starts from post four for driver Denis St Pierre and trainer Frances Richard.
In his last four starts Champagne Phil has won at three different tracks, twice at The Raceway in London, once at Mohawk Raceway and then last week’s track record tying performance at the Hippodrome 3R.
In that mile, with Denis St Pierre in the sulky, Champagne Phil led every step of the one mile pace, pulling away in the stretch to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:53.1 for his sixth win on the year. That mile tied the track record for older gelding set by Duc D’Orleans in 2014 and shattered the Quebec-Bred Series record for his age and gait.
Other contenders in the race include McKinney (post 5), Bali (post 6) and Victor Bayama (post 7).
“He was very strong last week,” said driver Denis St Pierre. “If the conditions are right this Sunday he could break the record. He is a very nice horse.”
The first race division for mares is headlined by last week’s track record tying performer, My Tallia Ideal, from post four for driver Stephane Gendron.
Last week the five-year-old mare by Western Ideal was at her best, wiring the field by two lengths in 1:54.3. That tied the track record for older mares with Sans Frontiere set in 2013. It was the fourth win on the year for the Michel Allard trainee.
But it will not be a “walk in the park” for My Tallia Ideal as she takes on a very formidable foe in Champagne Shower in post three for driver Denis St Pierre.
A four-year-old mare by Santana Blue Chip, Champagne Shower is on a three-race winning streak for trainer Yves Tessier. She has won the first two rounds of the series and seeks to make it a clean sweep.
Another game performer in the race is Victoria Semalu (post one) for driver Stephane Brosseau. She won an opening round of the series and was second last week to My Tallia Ideal.
The Quebec-Bred Series for older horses and mares culminates on Sunday, June 14 with the top eight pointer earners in each division returning for the $35,000 finals. For more information go to www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club