Redwood Hanover upsets in C$200,000 Prix d’Ete

With one of the gutsiest performances of his career, 14-1 Redwood Hanover (Stay Hungry) and driver Jonathan Drury wore down Huntinthelastdolar (Doug McNair) in the stretch to capture the C$200,000 Prix d’Ete for four-year-old pacers Sunday (Aug. 18) at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

It was the 33 edition of the Prix d’Ete, which was last held four years ago at H3R.

The 10th race feature got underway with El Rey (Louis-Philippe Roy) firing out to the early lead and then race favorite It’s My Show (James MacDonald) flying on the outside and taking the lead after an eye-opening first quarter mile in :26.1.

It’s My Show led the field to the half mile in :55.3 with Huntinthelastdolar coming first-over and Redwood Hanover second-over. As they raced down the backstretch, It’s My Show began to fade as Huntinthelastdolar took command and Redwood Hanover and Drury continued first-over as they passed the three-quarters in 1:24.2.

Those two then hooked up racing neck and neck around the final turn and down the stretch until Redwood Hanover wore down Huntinthelastdolar and won by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:52.2. Huntinthelastdolar was second with No Control (Jody Jamieson) third.

It was the fastest mile of the year at H3R and the second win on the season for Redwood Hanover.

The stallion is trained by Anthony Beaton, who co-owns him with Mac Nichol-Mckinlay & Fielding and David Mercer. He paid $30.90 to win.

“He really raced good in his last start at Mohawk,” said winning driver Jonathan Drury. “And I know he has a big kick. I just need them to rough it up a bit, which they did and things worked out in our favor.

“When they started to clear in the backstretch,” Drury explained. “I still had a ton of horse. So, I figured we could give him (Huntinthelastdolar) a good run to the finish. My horse was covered up enough to be able to get the job done. I felt good coming off the last turn.”

The Quebec Jockey Club also hosted the third and final preliminary round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. There were two divisions for the colts and one for the fillies.

The $10,000 lone division for the fillies turned out to be the fastest mile of the three races as the overwhelming 1/9 favorite, One More Bet (All Bets Off) and driver Daniel Dube dominated over the field.

The 7th race saw Wicked Discovery (Pascal Berube) park-out D Gs Lorijeanne (Jonathan Lachance) for the early lead but then flying on the outside was One More Bet and Dube. They cleared to the lead before the :27.3 opening quarter.

One More Bet cut the mile to the half in :57.3 and then Ronda Du Lac (Louis-Philippe Roy) came first-over with Ma Diva (Sylvain Lacaille) second-over. Dube then opened up with One More Bet at the three-quarters in 1:27.1, pulling away in the stretch to win in a romp by seven and one-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. Ronda Du Lac was second with Ma Diva third.

It was the third win on the season for One More Bet and her second win in the series. She is trained by Jean Tourigny for the Morel, Inc. Stable and paid just $2.10 to win.

The first $7,500 division for the colts was the 2nd race that saw Ambitious Mind (Big Jim) and driver Francis Picard go wire-to-wire in 1:57.1 to win by a scant neck over G S Speed Expert (Robert Shepherd) with Dan Speed (Jessica Turenne) third.

It was a lifetime mark for the gelding and his third win this year for trainer Dominique Picard and owners Severine Picard, Martin Bilodeau and Claude Thibault. Francis Picard bred Ambitious Mind, who paid $12.50 to win.

The 5th race second colt division was also won gate-to-wire by the 1/5 race favorite, Boomboom Tonight (Sportswriter) and driver Pacal Berube.

They cut fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28 with no one able to mount a serious challenge.

Boomboom Tonight won with ease by three and three-quarter lengths in 1:57. The pocket-sitting Olaf Du Lac (Louis-Philippe Roy) was second with Kinnder Reptile (Marie-Claude Auger) third.

It was the fourth win in the last five starts for Boomboom Tonight, who is owned, trained and was bred by Elisabeth Pothier. He paid $2.50 to win.

Track Notes: Louis-Philippe Roy led all drivers with four winners on the day and Denis St Pierre had a driving double. The total handle for the afternoon was $321,019, just $2,400 under the record handle day set in 2023. Live racing resumes at H3R next Friday, Aug. 23 at 4:00 pm. Featured will be the third and final preliminary round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotting colts and fillies.