by Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — The highest payoff of the 2016 harness racing season took place in the very first race at the Hippodrome 3R when Classic Mondiale and driver Pierre Luc Roy upset the field at odds of 101-1, paying $204.50 for a $2 win wager.

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Classic Mondiale provided his supporters with the lucrative pay-off of $204.50 for a $2 win bet on Sunday at Hippodrome 3R.

The first race pace started off with Trys Little Prince and driver Steeve Genois shooting to the early lead from post five with Mr Sunshine Boy (Pascal Berube) sitting right on their back to the opening quarter-mile. Then coming to the half-mile marker, the race favorite, Iron Phil (Louis-Philippe Roy) came first-over, with Onyx A V (Marion Charron) following second-over and third-over in the flow was Classic Mondiale and Roy.

In the backstretch, Iron Phil carried the outside flow and gained ground on pacesetter Trys Little Prince, taking the lead as the field started down the stretch, but it was Classic Mondiale who was the strong horse, closing from fourth place on the outside to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1 for Roy.

Iron Phil was second with Onyx A V taking third place.

Across the board, Classic Mondiale paid $204.50 to win, $13.80 to place and $5.90 to show. Ironically, the previous highest win price at 3R this season was held by second place finisher, Iron Phil, who paid $99.40 to win back on June 7 for driver Louis-Philippe Roy.

Owned and trained by Marco Fillion, it was the fourth this year for Classic Mondiale, a 7-year-old gelded son of Omar Khayam. He was scratched sick last week, but two starts prior had won at 3R at odds of 5-1.

It was a Roy family daily double with Pierre Luc Roy winning the first race and then his younger brother, leading driver Louis-Philippe Roy, capturing the second race with M G Kudos ($3.20). Louis-Philippe Roy leads all drivers at 3R this season with 57 wins.

Driver Gaetan Lamy had the hot hands at 3R Sunday afternoon, winning three races on the program and thus earned the Tour du Champeau bonus, sponsored locally by Gentilly Ford autos, which offers a $100 bonus to any driver who can win three races on the program at 3R.

Trainer Yves Tessier has only one starter at 3R Sunday, Strokin ($7.50), who won the ninth race. With that victory, Tessier widened his lead as top trainer to 22 to 20 over reigning champion Maxime Velaye.

Driver Pascal Berube, who is second in the driver standings at 35 wins, ended a long losing streak with a victory aboard Dream Of Mattjesty ($5.60) in the eighth race.

Live racing resumes next Sunday (Oct. 30) with first race post time at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.