D Gs De Vito and driver Jonathan Lachance winning at H3R. (Thephotodesk.ca photo)
Can D Gs De Vito handle hike in class
At 0h05, on July 2, 2021 • By STEVEN WOLF
D Gs De Vito is one of the up-and-coming harness racing pacers currently competing at the Hippodrome 3R and on Friday he will be taking on the Preferred class for the first time this year.
D Gs De Vito, despite drawing the outside post eight in the 6th race Preferred Pace, is still listed as the 3-1 second choice in the race.
A five-year-old gelded son of Sportswriter, D Gs De Vito has shown the ability to win from any post this season. With Jonathan Lachance in the sulky, D Gs De Vito sports four wins in 2021, three of them coming in his last four starts.
“He is an easy horse to drive,” Jonathan Lachance explained. “He has a very good head about racing. He is a natural talent, a small horse with a small gait, but a beautiful gate. He is not incredible, he is good because he has a big heart, he is a little brawler.”
Last week he was interfered with in post nine, but still came back to win by a nose in 1:56.3. Two starts before that he came first-over from fourth place, snatched the lead away before the half mile pole and strolled to a 1:55.3 score.
“He is in good shape,” Lachance said of D Gs De Vito. “He is climbing in class and with the starting position #8, his race will be very difficult. He can compete with the favorites but it will take a ‘normal mile’, not a mile and 1/4 as his last race on the outside.”
D Gs De Vito has but one problem. He can’t leave out of the starting gate. Only once in 42 career starts and qualifiers too, was D Gs De Vito on the lead by the opening quarter mile.
Lachance says he can leave at the start.
“He can take off at the barrier, but he prefers to come from behind.”
D Gs De Vito is trained by Guylaine Fortin for owner-breeder Daniel Surprenant of Saint-Valentin.
It may be a rude awakening for D Gs De Vito with his hike in class and drawing post 8 and having to go against Mickeymaksomespeed.
The 5/2 favorite in the race, Mickeymaksomespeed has been a terror in the Preferred ranks this season. He sports two wins and two seconds in six starts and in his last two starts he lost and won by a nose.
The four-year-old stallion by Mickey Hanover was bred and is owned and trained by Michel Allard of Sainte-Esprit. He will start from post six for driver Samuel Fillion. In his last start he lost by a nose in 1:56.4, the start before that he won by a nose in 1:56 and in his first start of the season romped at H3R in 1:54.2.
Other contenders in the race include the return of Farmers Tan (post 7) for owner-trainer-driver Carol Voyer and Windsun Cheyenne (post 3).
Post time on Friday at H3R is 4:00 pm. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
