Track record set on Builder’s Day at H3R

The Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec featured more than $130,000 in stakes races Sunday (Oct. 6) with two special memorial races, the $102,000 Brian Paquet and the $30,200 Lucien Bombardier.

Both Paquet and Bombardier were industry leaders not only in Quebec but for all of Canada. The Bombardier Memorial is co-sponsored by both Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club.

It was Builder’s Day at H3R Sunday and in addition to honoring both Paquet and Bombardier, also honored at the track in a special ceremony before the start of the race card were Marcel Lacaille, Jean-Claude Martineau and Léo Tourigny, all of whom have been instrumental in helping promote the industry in Quebec.

Then the action on the racetrack was fast and furious as a track record was set in one division and a stakes record set in the other divisions of the Paquet Memorial.

In the 11th race second $51,000 division of the Brian Paquet for older Quebec-bred fillies and mares saw recent Quebec Championship Final winner One More Bet (All Bets Off) and driver Jocelyn Gendron wire the field in a track record 1:54.2 mile.

Leaving from the rail, One More Bet had Jimbelina (Robert Shepherd) sitting on their backs as they led to the quarter in :27.4. Then coming first-over was Greatest Pleasure (LPR) with YS Sensationalcity (William Roy) second-over by the half mile in :57.3.

With Greatest Pleasure applying the pressure first-over, One More Bet dug in as the two horses started to pull away at the three-quarters in 1:26.1. They raced neck and neck around the final turn and down the stretch until One More Bet proved to be the strong horse, winning by three-quarters of a length over Greatest Pleasure with YS Sensationalcity third.

One of only two fillies going against older mares, it was the fifth win this season for One More Bet. Her 1:54.2 effort surpassed the previous track mark set by YS Sensationalcity last year in 1:55.

Trained by Jean Tourigny for owner-breeder Les Ecuries Morel, Inc., One More Bet paid $7.40 to win.

The 10th race featured the $51,000 Brian Paquet Memorial for the older Quebec-bred horses and saw the overwhelming 1/9 race favorite,

Fortify (Sweet Lou) and driver Louis-Philippe Roy led from start to finish with a stakes equaling 1:52 mile.

Fortify kept the field at bay the entire mile, cutting fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.2, winning in a romp by four open lengths in 1:52. 45-1 Light The Torch (Pascal Berube) was parked first-over from before the half mile marker and still held game for second place. The Light Speed (Guy Gagnon) was third.

It was the fastest mile of the year at H3R, surpassing the 1:52.2 mile by Prix d’Ete winner Redwood Hanover in August. Fortify is now tied with Cadillac Bayama for the Paquet record. It was Fortify’s seventh win this year for trainer Rene Bourassa and owners Daniel Gaudreault and the Maguire Stable. The seven-year-old gelding paid just $2.10 to win.

The first $15,100 division of the Lucien Bombardier Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies was the 4th race as Mystic Moment (Marie-Claude Auger) cut the mile with 1/9 favorite Silver Majesty (All Bets Off) and driver Denis St Pierre sitting the pocket trip through fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:29.2.

Then on the final turn, St Pierre came first-over with Silver Majesty and blew by the leader before winning with ease in 1:58.4 by one and one-half lengths over Justine Ray (Daniel Laflamme) with Mystic Moment third.

It was a lifetime mark and fourth win of the season for Silver Majesty, who is trained by Jean-Francois Maguire for the Silver Stables and Marie Michelle Gaboury, paying $2.30 to win.

The second and faster division of the Bombardier was the 6th race where Jenny Longlegs (Guy Gagnon) cut the mile to the quarter in :28.2 with Mirabel Enfete (Stephane Brosseau) getting the two-hole trip.

By the half mile in :59.3, race favorite Simply The Best (All Bets Off) and driver Pascal Berube came first-over with Ibetyouakiss (Robert Shepherd) second-over.

Racing neck and neck in the backstretch, Jenny Longlegs could not hold off Simply The Best, who took command at the three-quarters in 1:29.2. Simply The Best then cruised home, winning by one and one-half lengths in 1:58.3 with Ibetyouakiss second and Mirabel Enfete third.

It was the third straight win and fifth victory of the year for Simply The Best, who is trained by Marc-Andre Simoneau for Aurel Harvey Et Fils, Inc., paying $3.90 to win.

Track Notes: Pascal Berube scored a driving triple and Louis-Philippe Roy, William Roy and Denis St Pierre all had driving doubles. Marc-Andre Simoneau had a training double and now leads the training standings at H3R, 25 to 23 over David Pilon. Live racing resumes at H3R next Sunday, October 13 at 12:00 noon.