Littlebitaswagger and driver Francis Picard winning at H3R. (Thephotodesk.ca photo)
Littlebitaswagger romps in 1:54.1
At 0h04, on July 12, 2021 • By STEVEN WOLF
Leaving like a rocket from post five, Littlebitaswagger and driver Francis Picard let no one even get close to them as the duo wired the field in the 8th race Preferred-Handicap Pace at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday.
Winless in his last four starts, Littlebitaswagger led the field past the opening quarter mile in a speedy :26.2 with Farmers Tan (Carol Voyer) trying to follow the live cover in the two-hole.
Past the half mile in :55.4, Littlebitaswagger started to inch away from the field for Picard as no one was even trying a first-over challenge. As they started down the backstretch, Picard let Alittlebitaswagger have his head and they started to pull away from the field, leading by five lengths at the three-quarters in 1:24.3.
Then Littlebitaswagger opened up on the field in the stretch, romping by nine and one-half lengths in 1:54.1. D Gs De Vito (Jonathan Lachance) was second with Farmers Tan third.
It was the fourth win this year for Littlebitaswagger. A nine-year-old gelding by Santanna Blue Chip, he is trained by Marc-Andre Simoneau for owner Charles Gaudreault of Metis-Sur-Mer. He paid $14.20 to win in the mild upset.
Four-time Quebec Champion pacer Atomic Million AM ($2.50), returned to H3R Sunday and won the fifth race pace in 1:59 for driver Sylvain Lacaille. Now age 10, the gelded son of Million Dollar Cam sports 46 career wins and earnings of more than $370,000. He is trained and owned by Alain Martin of Gatineau. It was his second win in eight starts this year.
Track Notes: Both Stephane Brosseau and Jocelyn Gendron scored driving doubles Sunday. With his two wins, Stephane Brosseau is now tied for the lead with Pascal Berube in the driver standings at 26 wins each. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday at 4:00 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm. Free programs will be available at www.hippodrome3r.ca. Next weekend kicks off the 2021 stakes season at H3R. Friday’s card features the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotters. Sunday’s program has the three-year-old pacers in their opening round. Each division (by gender and gait) races for total purses of more than $87,000.
