Trois-Rivieres, QC – Harness racing driver Pascal Berube stole the show at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday afternoon, scoring a driving triple. It was his first hat-trick of the 2020 season.
There was plenty of racing action in the second race pace for two-year-old colts and fillies.
The 1-2 race favorite Platine Alpha (Carol Voyer) was first on the lead with 16-1 Write One (Pascal Berube) sitting the pocket seat and then with a bold three-wide move, Too Soon BG and driver Stephane Brosseau took command by the opening quarter mile in :29.1.
Right away Berube came out and to the lead with Write One, who led to the half mile in :59.4. Then in the backstretch, Platine Alpha came first-over and collared Write One by the three-quarters in 1:29.3.
Those two fillies then duked it out on the final turn and in the stretch, Write One proved to be the best, winning by one and one-quarter length in 1:59.1 over Platine Alpha with Full Power Sena (Steeven Genois) third.
It was the second lifetime start and first pari-mutuel victory for Write One. The Sportswriter filly from the Die Laughing mare Tug River Della, is trained and owned by Francois Leconte of Hyacinthe and paid $34.30 to win. She is the 12th foal from the mare and a half-sister to Rub N Tug p,1:50.3 ($474,000), Della Cruise p,1:50.3 ($312,000) and a full sister to Bet On Brett p,1:50.1 ($168,000).
Berube also won with Pez Dispencer in the 6th race pace in 1:56.4 and the 5th race pace with PLD Needy in a lifetime best 1:59.1.
Another big battle took place in the seventh race Mares Preferred-Handicap Pace and the photo finish camera was needed to declare the winner.
Shemaksmefelunreal and driver Stephane Brosseau took command early with Hammering Haley (Francis Picard) in the two-hole spot to the opening quarter mile in :29.1.
Sieras Rose (Pierre Luc Roy) came first-over at the half mile in :59.3, giving Y C Easy (Steeven Genois) second-over cover. Then in the backstretch, Genois sent Y C Easy three-wide by the three-quarters in 1:28.2.
Those three horses continued to battle it out on the final turn and then in the stretch Y C Easy and Genois looked to move ahead but Hammering Haley was not done yet and those two had to wait for the photo finish in 1:58.1. Y C Easy won by a nose over Hammering Haley with Sieras Rose third by a half-length.
It was the first win in nine starts this year for Y C Easy, a five-year-old mare by Sportswriter, who is trained and owned by Carl Duguay of Trois-Rivieres. She paid $14.40 to win.
Track Notes: Undefeated Mickeymaksomespeed (Stephane Gendron) posted his fourth straight win Sunday with a 1:58.1 triumph for breeder, owner and trainer Michel Allard. Three of his wins have come at H3R, tying him with Zar E IP and SOS Turbo as the winningest horses this meet. Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R next Friday at 4:00 pm. Friday's card kicks-off another three-day weekend of live racing. Saturday will be the second round of the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit. Saturday and Sunday's race cards begin at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
From the Quebec Jockey Club