Trois-Rivieres, QC – With perfect fall weather in Quebec, Game Of Shadows was at her best in the $33,800 Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies, setting a track record at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday.
Harness racing driver Louis Philippe Roy not only drove the winner of the feature race, but ended the day with five trips to the winner’s circle.
The Lucien Bombardier Pace is named after the pioneer of harness racing in not only Quebec, but all of Canada. Bombardier was a prominent owner, breeder, trainer and driver. He also served on the Board of Director of Standardbred Canada., who is a co-sponsor of this annual race.
Leaving like a rocket from post four in the 7th race, Game Of Shadows flew to the lead for driver and co-owner Louis Philippe Roy, going to the opening quarter mile in :27.1. Platine Alpha (Pascal Berube) was content sitting the two-hole trip.
Past the half mile marker in :56, both Game Of Shadows and Platine Alpha began to pull away from the field to the three-quarters in 1:25. Then in the stretch Game Of Shadows pulled away from Platine Alpha and went on to win by four open lengths in 1:54, a track record for her age, gait and gender.
The previous track record was set last week by Celia Bayama (Sylvain Filion) in 1:55.3. It is the third track record set this year at H3R.
Sired by Shadow Play, Game Of Shadows is trained by Chantel Mitchell and LPR co-owns the filly with 1876472 Ontario, Inc. She was sent off the overwhelming 1/9 favorite and paid $2.30 to win.
Her time of 1:54 was two seconds faster than the Preferred Pace for the horses.
In the 8th race Preferred-Handicap Pace for the horses, it was the pocket-sitting Mickeymaksomespeed ($6.00) and driver Steeven Genois, who sat a pocket seat to pacesetter Farmers Tan (Carol Voyer) through fractions of :27.1 and :57.2. Then before the three-quarters in 1:26.4, Genois pulled the pocket with Mickeymaksomespeed and came after Farmers Tan.
Those two raced neck and neck around the final turn until Mickeymaksomespeed worn him down in the stretch and went on to win by one length in 1:56 over Farmers Tan with Maracasso (Pascal Berube) third.
The lone three-year-old in the field, Mickeymaksomespeed is sired by Mickey Hanover and was bred and is trained and owned by Michel Allard of Saint-Espirt.
Y C Easy ($46.70) upset the field in the 5th race Preferred Pace for fillies and mares. Driven by Steeven Genois, Y C Easy got a perfect second-over trip as Acaena De Chakrika (Stephane Brosseau) battled with Hammering Haley (Louis-Philippe Roy) for control of the lead. Y C Easy came from off the pace to nip Hammering Haley at the wire by a head in 1:56.4.
The three-year-old Muscle Mass colt, Frido PV ($2.90), was able to handle older trotters in the 4th race, wiring the field for driver Stephane Brosseau in 1:59.2.
Track Notes: H3R’s leading trainer the past three season, Francis Richard, had a big day with three winners from his stable, all driven by LPR. Live racing resumes next Friday (Oct. 9) with special post time at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
From the Quebec Jockey Club