Despite making a break at the start of the race, then having to brush three-wide in the backstretch from seventh place, SOS Striking Monte and driver Pascal Berube would not be denied at the Hippodrome 3R Tuesday evening.
Competing in the fourth and final preliminary round of the Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old trotting mares, it was a rough start from the beginning for SOS Striking Monte.
Breaking stride right out of the starting gate, along with race favourite SOS Revange (Gaetan Lamy), is a tough start for any horse. Double Chance (Sylvain Lacaille) went right to the lead with Kim Sorel (Martin Gingras) in the pocket seat to the opening quarter mile in :29.2. Then at the half mile in 1:01.1, National Trace (Stephane Brosseau) came first-over with Beauty Road (Guy Gagnon) following second-over and then came SOS Striking Monte and Berube third-over after recovering from the early break.
Turning into the backstretch, Berube turned SOS Striking Monte loose and the mare came flying three-wide and her momentum carried her to the lead at the three-quarters in 1:32.1. Then down the stretch SOS Striking Monte could not be caught, winning by one and one-quarter lengths in 2:02.4. Double Chance held for second with Kim Sorel third.
A five-year-old daughter of Striking Sahbra, it was SOS Striking Monte’s second win in five starts this year for trainer Guy Roy and owner Francis Prouix of Saint-Pie-De-Guire, QC. She paid $9.20 to win.
In the non-wagering horse division of the Quebec-Bred Series, Maximuscle and driver Mario Charron were able to hold off rival Meet The Boss (Louis-Phillipe Roy) in 1:58.2.
Last week it was Meet The Boss upsetting Maximuscle with a neck triumph, but this time Charron was able to back down the early pace (:29.4 opening quarter) to a 1:01 half mile. It was then that Roy made his move, just like last week, with Meet The Boss and he kept grinding it his way towards the race leader through the three-quarters in a mild 1:30.2.
The difference in the race this week was that Maximuscle kicked in a :57.2 last half mile and :28 second final quarter mile to hold off Meet The Boss by three-quarters of a length. The pocket-sitting Promesses Imperial (Jerome Lombart) was third.
For Maximuscle, a five-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall, it was his second win in three starts this year for trainer Maxime Velaye and owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC.
On Sunday, June 26, Maximuscle will seek to become the first horse ever to win all four finals of the Quebec-Bred Series in his age and gait division.
The field for the 2016 Quebec / Eastern Ontario Regional Driving Championship, scheduled for Tuesday evening, July 12 at the Hippodrome 3R has been confirmed.
The participating drivers are:
Jacques Beaudoin (Rideau Carleton Raceway)
Pascal Berube (Hippodrome 3R)
Gord Brown (Kawartha Downs)
Guy Gagnon (Rideau Carleton Raceway)
Sylvain Lacaille (Hippodrome 3R)
Gaetan Lamy (Hippodrome 3R)
Brett MacDonald (Rideau Carleton Raceway)
Louis Philippe Roy (Rideau Carleton Raceway)Invitations were extended to drivers based on several criteria including their 2015 and 2016 statistics on their circuit.
“This promises to be an extremely exciting and competitive drivers’ challenge,” commented Vincent Trudel, General Manager at 3R. “We have just hosted a very successful All-Star Drivers Tournament which drew a huge crowd. Our fans love these types of events and we look forward to having another driving competition, this time featuring many of our local drivers.”
The Hippodrome 3R is hosting the Quebec Regional event for the third time after serving as host track in 2008 and 2014.
Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday with the fourth and final preliminary round of the Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old pacers. First race post time is 1:30 p.m.
For a free race program and to view live racing, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.