Trois-Rivieres, QC – Ufdragons Rocket and driver Pascal Berube had just one goal in Sunday's Preferred-Handicap Pace at the Hippodrome 3R, go to the front and hold on the entire mile race and that is just what they did.
Leaving from post four in the ninth race feature, Berube and Ufdragons Rocket battled early and took the lead away from D J Power (Louis Philippe Turcotte) at the opening quarter mile in :27.1.
Then coming to the half mile marker, driver Jonathan Lachance came first-over with the race favorite, Atomic Million AM, and they helped press the lead to the half in :57.3 with Kinnder Jackson (Pierre Luc Roy) following second-over.
Roy was not content following cover, so he moved Kinnder Jackson three-wide in the backstretch, but was unable to pass by Atomic Million AM as they raced three-wide with Ufdragons Rocket still in control past the three-quarters in 1:26.
Then as the field started down the stretch, Lachance found another gear for Ufdragons Rocket, who went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:54.4. DJ Power was second with Atomic Million AM third.
It was the second straight win and fourth on the season for Ufdragons Rocket. The oldest competitor in the field at age 10, the gelded son of Dragon Again is trained by Yves Tessier for owner Francois Morin of Beauceville. He paid $7.10 to win.
The fastest mile on the day was in the tenth race pace where trainer/driver Carol Voyer went wire-to-wire with Maracasso ($13.40) in 1:54.2.
Track Notes: H3R's leading driver, Stephane Gendron, led all drivers with two wins and leading trainer, Francis Richard, has three winners from his stable. This past Friday was the last Friday night racing card of the season. The Hippodrome 3R will now race on Sunday afternoons only through November 3.
$480,000C Championships Finals next Sunday
Next Sunday, September 8, the Quebec Jockey Club will host the $480,000C Quebec-Bred finals for both the Breeders Cup and Future Stars Series at the Hippodrome 3R.
There will be eight championship races, four Breeders Cup Finals for the three-year-old pacers and trotters with each division racing for a purse of $65,000C. There will also be four Future Stars Finals for the two-year-old trotters and pacers, each division racing for a purse of $55,000C.
Post time next Sunday is 1:00 pm. For a free race program, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club