by Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — Until last week, most racing fans in the province never heard of a 2-year-old pacing colt by the name of Makasi. Now he’s the talk of the region and rightly so.
After becoming the fastest 2-year-old pacing colt in the history of the Hippodrome 3R, Makasi returns to 3R Sunday (Aug. 28) to compete in the fourth and final preliminary round of the Future Stars Series.

Once Sunday’s final round is complete, the top eight point earners in the series will return on Sunday (Sept. 4) in the C$55,000 finals for each division by gait and gender. Also on that day, will be the four C$65,000 finals of the Breeders Cup Series for 3-year-old pacers and trotters.

thephotodesk.ca photo

Makasi and driver Yannick Gingras set track record for fastest 2yo ever at 3R in 1.55.2.

Makasi, who was winless in the first two starts of his young career, really wowed them at 3R last Sunday (Aug. 21). Trained by Helene Fillion for owner/breeder Tony Infilise of Hudson Standardbred Stable, Makasi was being driven by none other than Yannick Gingras, who was at 3R for Prix D’Ete Day.

Gingras sent the son of Shanghai Phil after the early lead, clearing to the front at the opening quarter-mile and then they never looked back. They opened up at the top of the stretch and with a :28.2 final quarter-mile, won in a romp by seven open lengths in 1:55.2.

That clocking was a full second off of the previous track record.

Infilise, no stranger in harness racing as the owner of top pacers including the great 3-year-old, Sunshine Beach and Makasi’s sire, Shanghai Phil, may have another champion in Makasi.

“I purchased his dam, Hazel (by The Panderosa) for $25,000 in Lexington,” Infilise, the former president of the Quebec Jockey Club said. “She raced in the Grand Circuit at age two in the She’s A Great Lady, Champlain Stake, Robert Stewart, Bluegrass, getting checks but no wins other than some Quebec stakes. She did make over C$100,000 with a record of 1:53.1.Hazel has thrown some very talented foals, but some had either bad luck or specific issues. They did have speed and were great gaited. I thought that Shanghai Phil crossed well with Western Hanover line mares so I bred her back and got Makasi.

“Mark Steacy trained him down early,” he explained, “And he looked decent, but it was only when he qualified that we saw something special in the way he just wanted to go and he came home in that race in :26.2 without any urging in his first and only qualifier. I expected him (Makasi) to do well (at 3R) based on what he showed in his two Gold Cup appearances at Mohawk, but didn’t expect a track record last Sunday. Nevertheless I was very proud as the breeder and owner.”

And where did the name Makasi come from?

“I actually named him after a sailboat belonging to a good friend,” Infilise said. “It is Swahili meaning tough, hard, strong or resilient.”

Now Makasi will be put to the test in the eighth race Sunday against nine rivals and starts from post five for driver Stephane Brosseau, who has never driven the colt before. His competition will hope to keep up this time as Wildriverbumblebee (post eight) put in a valiant effort last week for driver Louis-Philippe Roy, coming first-over and gaining within a half-length on the leader at the three-quarters before fading.

Other hopefuls in the race are Yogi Bayama (post eight), who won last week at 3R in 1:59.1, C L Sportsaction (post three) and Mach Déjà vu (post six).

“I would prefer him to race from off the pace this week,” Infilise explained, “as he is still very green and we don’t want to instill bad habits. The field is both larger and tougher but that shouldn’t be a problem for driver Stéphane Brosseau. Our objective is to give him a chance to win and qualify for the final on Sept. 4. I’m very pleased to have bred and to own him. He looks like his sire and is about the same size as Shanghai Phil at age two.”

The pacing fillies do battle in two divisions Sunday.

The fourth race first division is headed by Chaleurs Melodie from post six for trainer Carl Duguay and driver Daniel Dube. The Omar Khayam daughter posted her maiden victory last week at 3R in capturing her division of the Future Stars Series, wiring the field in 2:00. She takes on Vee Breeze (post five), Shanghai Lady (post four) and HP Celina Shadow (post seven).

The sixth race second division features the second track record holder this season in Yaris Bayama from post two for trainer/driver Yves Filion. This daughter of Sportswriter has been sensational this season with three wins in just five lifetime starts for the Bayama Farms of Saint-Andre-D’Argenteuil, who bred and own her.

Not only did Yaris Bayama take the lead after the opening quarter-mile and wiring the field, she won with ease by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4, making her the fastest 2-year-old pacing filly in 3R history.

Prior to that she won a C$105,000 Ontario Sire Stakes at Mohawk Raceway in a lifetime best 1:52.4, that combined with last week’s track record mile, makes her the overwhelming favorite on Sunday.

Her rivals include Queen Elsa (post five), who was second last week to Yaris Bayama for owner and breeder Daniel Dube and Kinnderuntouchable (post one), who was third in that race.

Post time is 1:30 p.m. Sunday. For a free race program and live video feed of the race program, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.