Trois-Rivieres, QC – In the final strides to the wire, Farmers Tan was able to catch and defeat Wrangler Cash to win the Preferred Pace harness racing feature at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday.
The sixth race saw Farmers Tan and owner, trainer, driver Carol Voyer of Lac-Kenogami leave from post five and take command of the race from Wrangler Cash and driver Pascal Berube by the opening quarter mile in :27.1. Berube quickly quarter moved and put Wrangler Cash back on the lead.
Coming to the half mile, Jocelyn Gendron came first-over with Somewhere Bettor and following their outside cover was Hooter Shooter with driver Stephane Gendron. They went past the half mile in :57.2.
With Somewhere Bettor beginning to fade by the three-quarters in 1:22.3, Farmers Tan now had clearance to come after Wrangler Cash and those to set up for a classic stretch drive to the finish.
Wrangler Cash and Berube tried as much as they could to hold off Farmers Tan in the stretch and it came to the final strides to wire as Farmers Tan and Carol Voyer surged ahead of Wrangler Cash to win by a head in 1:55.2. It was a dead heat for third place between Hooter Shooter and D J Power.
A four-year-old gelding by Always A Virgin, it was the sixth win this year for Farmers Tan. He paid $5.70 to win.
Sieras Rose ($5.80) returned to winning form for driver Pascal Berube in winning the fifth race Preferred-Handicapped Pace for the Fillies and Mares.
Unable to find a seat going to the opening quarter mile, Berube was content to sit first-over as Hammering Halley (Stephane Gendron) cut the mile to the opening quarter mile in :28.2.
With Shemaksmefelunreal (Samuel Fillion) in the two-hole spot and Sieras Rose parked out, they went by the half mile marker in :58.1.
Then in the backstretch, Berube urged Sieras Rose on and she responded by taking the lead by the three-quarters in 1:27.2. Then came pressure on the outside by Wild River Swan (Franis Picard), who actually got a head up on the leader before fading.
Godiva Mackiavelyc (Carol Voyer) came three-wide from fifth place around the final turn and was nearly able to collar Sieras Rose as they started down the stretch, but Sieras Rose was the strong horse, going on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.2. Godiva Mackiavelyc was second with Hammering Haley third.
It was the third win this year for Sieras Rose, an eight-year-old mare by No Pan Intended. She is trained and co-owned by the former race secretary at H3R, Johanne Dechamplain with Steve Perrault, both of Mont-Joli.
Track Notes: Three drivers all scored doubles on Sunday. They were Pascal Berube, Jocelyn Gendron and Francis Picard. Notching a training double was Alain Martin. Live racing will resume at H3R next Friday, first race post time at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
From the Quebec Jockey Club