Marie-Claude Auger wins five at H3R Friday
At 0h48, on September 7, 2024 • By STEVE WOLF, Quebec Jockey Club
Harness racing driver Marie-Claude Auger was red hot at the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on Friday (Sept. 6), winning half of the ten races on the program, including both of the co-feature events.
The 6th race $5,000 pace, saw Eataams Sportsbaby (Sportswriter) and driver Marie-Claude Auger sweep three-wide from second-over in the backstretch, then get parked three-wide around the final turn and still have enough momentum to beat 30-1 pacesetter BS Tyrrific (Francis Picard) by a length in 1:55.4. Odds On Carmel (Sylvain Fontaine) was third.
It was the sixth win this year for Eataams Sportsbaby. The eight-year-old gelding is owned and trained by Denis Audet and paid $14.00 to win.
Then in the 10th race $5,000 co-feature pace, it was déjà vu for Auger as she was second-over with American Zestar (American Ideal) and swept three-wide in the backstretch, clearing to first-over against pacesetter Cyclone Joe (Sylvain Lacaille) by the three-quarters.
Those two battled around the final turn and down the stretch with the pocket-sitting Little Diamond (William Roy) joining the fight to the wire with American Zestar winning by a head over Cyclone Joe in 1:57.1 with Little Diamond third.
It was the third win this year for American Zestar. The five-year-old gelding is trained by Louis Philippe Turcotte for owners Steve Perreault and Johanne Dechamplain and paid $10.40 to win.
It was the first time this season that Auger had five winners on a race program. Pascal Berube is the only other driver to have achieved that mark at this meet.
Track Notes: Along with Marie-Claude Auger’s five-win day, Denis Audet had a training double on Friday. Live racing resumes Sunday at 12:00 noon with the 12-race Super Sunday Quebec Championship Finals program. With $508,000 in total purses, it is the richest day of horse racing in Quebec.
