Ambitious Mind goes down the road in H3R feature
At 0h02, on September 16, 2024 • By STEVE WOLF, Quebec Jockey Club
The 5th race $7,000 feature pace for three-year-olds at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) Sunday (Sept. 15) saw race favorite Ambitious Mind (Big Jim) and driver Francis Picard go down the road from post three enroute to a three-quarter length triumph in a lifetime best mile of 1:55.3.
A gusty Dan Speed (Jessica Turenne) was parked out first-over from the opening quarter and was second while the pocket-sitting D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) was third.
It was the second win in the last three starts for Ambitious Mind, who is trained by Dominique Picard, co-owned by Severine Picard, Martin Bilodeau and Claude Thibault. Ambitious Mind was bred by Francis Picard and paid $3.10 to win.
In the 2nd race pace, 15-1 Foiled Dragon (Fear The Dragon) and driver Jocelyn Gendron ended the three-race winning streak of race favorite Royel Song (Simon Delisle) with a big upset victory.
Leaving from post five, Gendron sent Foiled Dragon right to the front and never looked back. Royel Song tried her best but could not keep up with Foiled Dragon, who wired the field in 1:57, beating Royel Song by three-quarters of a length. Butterfly Catcher (Antoine Desrochers) was third.
It was a lifetime mark and the second win this year for Foiled Dragon. The three-year-old gelding is trained and co-owned by Marc Lacoursiere with Michel Berthelet and paid $32.00 to win.
Sunday was National Caretaker Appreciation Day at H3R with the caretaker of every horse racing was given well-deserved recognition, a free lunch in the race paddock, and a special gift to the caretaker of every winning horse on the ten-race card, who was interviewed in the winner’s circle.
Track Notes: Marie-Claude Auger had the hot hands Sunday, scoring a driving triple while Johanne Dechamplain had a trainer double. Live racing resumes at H3R next Sunday, September 22.
