The Light Speed avenges loss in Quebec-Bred Series
At 0h01, on June 19, 2023 • By STEVEN WOLF
The Light Speed (Moon Beam) and driver Jimmy Gagnon were able to avenge their loss last week with an impressive victory in the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series held at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday (June 18) afternoon.
The 9th race was one of two $6,500 second round divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series for four-year-old and older pacers.
The Light Speed and Gagnon were first on the lead with last week’s return winner Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) leaving from post five and grabbing the two-hole trip to the first quarter in :27.4.
Then Mickeymaksomespeed (Jocelyn Gendron) came first-over to challenge The Light Speed and pressed them to the half mile in :57.2. Mickeymaksomespeed was relentless first-over but by the three-quarters in 1:25.3, he was beginning to tire, yet kept Aladdin boxed in behind The Light Speed around the final turn.
As they started down the stretch, Brosseau found clearance with Aladdin but it was too late as The Light Speed held them off to win by a long neck in 1:54.3. Stock (Pascal Berube) closed well to be third.
For The Light Speed it was his seventh win of the season in just eleven starts. He has now won four of his last five starts for trainer Guy Gagnon and owner Michel Nolette of Princeville, Quebec. He paid $4.00 to win.
The older mares competed in the Quebec-Bred Series in the 3rd race with a field of nine starters after Celia Bayama scratched.
Return winner Lili GL and driver Pascal Berube were first on the lead with race favorite Platine Alpha (Jimmy Gagnon) forcing herself into the two-hole by the first quarter in :28.2.
Then it was another return winner from the opening round of the series, Kiss Me Bad (Badlands Hanover) who came first-over for trainer-driver-owner Steven Gagnon. They were followed by Fancy Girl (Jonathan Lachance) second-over. The half mile was tripped at :58.
As the field reached the three-quarters in 1:27.1, Kiss Me Bad had worn down Lili GL and took over the lead as they raced around the final turn. Kiss Me Bad and Gagnon then pulled away from the field in the stretch to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:56.4. Lil GL was second with Platine Alpha third.
It was the second straight win for Kiss Me Bad, who is on course to sweep the series. She paid $7.50 to win.
In the 5th race Preferred-Handicap Pace, Siddhartha (So Surreal) and driver Stephane Brosseau swept three-wide at the three-quarters and looped the field en route to a one and one-quarter length victory in 1:57. Manhattan Joe (Samuel Fillion) was second with BS Tyrrific (Jimmy Gagnon) third. He paid $4.00 to win.
Track Notes: Live harness racing resumes at H3R next Friday, June 23 with first race post time at 4:00 pm. Featured will be the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series for four-year-old and older trotters.
