Trois-Rivieres, Quebec – Newcomer Fortune Playboy showed he is a force to be reckoned with as driver Gilles Gendron toyed with the harness racing field at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday in the third race feature pace.
Shipping in from Kawartha Downs on a two-race win streak, Fortune Playboy was heard from first once the starting gate pulled away as the five-year-old gelded son of Rambaran shot right to the lead from post six.
To the opening quarter mile in :28.1, Fortune Playboy already held the field at bay as Aarons Mattjesty (Denis St Pierre) was battling with Pieraz (Sylvain Lacaille) for the two-hole spot with Aarons Mattjesty winning that fight.
Past the half mile marker in :57.2, Fortune Playboy held command of the lead by a length as Pieraz was now first-over but could not collar the leader with Aarons Mattjesty getting the pocket trip. It was the still the same as they reached the three-quarters in 1:26.2.
It was then that Gendron stopped playing with the field, led Fortune Playboy have his head and they pulled away for a three length victory in 1:56.1 on the off-track. Aarons Mattjesty was second with Pieraz third.
Trained by John MacMillan, it was Fortune Playboy’s sixth win this year. He is co-owned by MacMillan and 2099551 Ontario, Inc. and paid $4.00 to win.
It was a driver/trainer double on the afternoon as Gendron/MacMillan teamed up to also win the fifth race pace with Windson Stetson ($2.90) in 1:59.1.
Driver Denis St Pierre had the hots hands Sunday despite the rain and scored his fourth driving quadruple of the season. He is now just two wins away from scoring his 4,000th career victory.
Coming up this Wednesday evening is the opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. There will be four weeks of elimination competition in July with the top point earners returning on Sunday, September 6 for their $65,000 finals.
Post time on Wednesday is 7:00 pm. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club