Partyintheshadows keys driving quintuplet for Shepherd
At 0h57, on October 30, 2023 • By STEVE WOLF
Harness racing driver Robert Shepherd put on a driving clinic at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday (Oct. 29) afternoon scoring a driving quintuplet that was keyed when Partyintheshadows won the feature pace.
It was the first time this season that Shepherd had won five races on a card at H3R. Only Jocelyn Gendron has had one this season.
In the 9th race Preferred-Handicap Pace, Celia Bayama (Stephane Brosseau), one of two mares against seven male rivals, went right out to the early lead with Press Time (Jocelyn Gendron) getting the two-hole trip.
By the opening quarter mile in :27.2, 4/5 race favorite Partyintheshadows and Robert Shepherd were on the move first-over. Shepherd didn’t try to rush up to take the lead, so Brosseau slowed down the pace as Celia Bayama led to the half mile in :58.2.
Going in the backstretch, Partyintheshadows continued go at it first-over against a determined Celia Bayama passing the three quarters in 1:28.3. After battling around the final turn, Partyintheshadows had the lead by the top of the stretch and went on to win by one length in 1:57.4. Celia Bayama held for second with D Gs De Vito (William Roy) fourth placed third over Kiss Me Bad (Steven Gagnon).
It was the third straight win and sixth of the year for Partyintheshadows. The five-year-old gelding is trained by David Pilon for owner Francois Morin of Beauceville and paid $3.80 to win.
Shepherd capped his five-win afternoon in the 10th race, scoring the fastest mile of the afternoon with race favorite G A Speed Joey (Betterthancheddar), who won in a romp in 1:55.4.
In the 4th race pace, Iron Phil (King Tutpankhamen) made the final start of his long racing career as the 14-year-old gelding was honored with a special blanket presentation after his race.
Iron Phil looked good for driver Jocelyn Gendron as he sat second behind pacesetter and race favorite Souffle De Vie (Marie-Claude Auger). But approaching the three-quarters, Iron Phil looked like he had enough, and started to tire, finishing sixth. Buckingham (Pascal Berube, $8.70) won the race in 2:00.2.
In the winner’s circle, Iron Phil was honored with his special blanket, a bouquet of huge carrots and other retirement gifts. He was owned for most of his career by trainer Nathalie Migneault and Eric Dechamplain of Saint-Donat, Quebec who have arranged for him to have a great retirement.
Over his career, Iron Phil raced and won every year except for 2023. He retires with 27 career wins in 245 starts and was bred by Stephane Brosseau and Jean Beaulieu.
Track Notes: In addition to Robert Shepherd’s quintuple, Pascal Berube had a driving triple. Trainer David Pilon stole the lead away from Marc-Andre Simoneau, scoring an impressive training quadruple. The two trainers were tied at 29 wins each. There are just two Sunday afternoon’s left for the 2023 season at H3R. Live racing is next Sunday, Nov. 5 at 12:00 noon.
