from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, QC — With a strong first-over burst to take command of the race after the three-quarter-mile mark, Champagne Shower tied the track record for older mares at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday (June 7) in scoring her fourth straight win.

Competing in the first race division of the C$125,000 Quebec-Bred Series for 4- and 5-year-old mares, Champagne Shower and driver Denis St. Pierre showed that patience is a virtue.

Sylvain Gagnon photo

Champagne Shower tied the track record for older mares at the Hippodrome 3R.

It was Victoria Semalu and driver Stephane Brosseau who left quickly from the rail post position to take command and stuff the 3-5 wagering favorite, My Tallia Ideal, who left from post four for driver Stephane Gendron, behind her in second place.

They raced to the opening quarter in :27 and then to the half-mile marker in :56.4 with no retaliation action from My Tallia Ideal, who last week tied the track record for older mares with a 1:54.3 win in the series.

Meanwhile, St. Pierre and Champagne Shower sat patiently in third place until the field started down the backstretch. Then at the three-quarters in 1:26.2, St. Pierre sent Champagne Shower after pacesetter Victoria Semalu and blew by them on the final turn and put on the afterburners in the stretch to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:54.3. In a close battle for second place, My Tallia Ideal edged out Victoria Semalu.

It was the fifth win this season for Champagne Shower, who is sired by Santanna Blue Chip, trained by Yves Tessier and owned by breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Stainte-Terese, QC. She paid $4.40 to win.

The time of the race, 1:54.3, now has Champagne Shower tied with both My Tallia Ideal (2015) and Sans Frontiere (2013) as the fastest older mares in Hippodrome 3R history.

Another “Champagne” horse, Champagne Phil, had little trouble posting his fifth straight victory, leading from start to finish in the third race division of the Quebec-Bred Series for horses in 1:54.1.

Driven by St. Pierre, Champagne Phil posted his seventh win of the year for trainer Francis Richard and the ICR Racing Stable of Pefferlaw, QC and paid just $2.30 to win. Champagne Phil won by 1-3/4 lengths over McKinney (Stephane Brosseau) and Bali (Marie-Claude Auger).

St. Pierre ended the day not only winning both divisions of the Quebec Series, but made it a driving triple as he won the ninth race pace with Tilikum ($16.90) in 1:58.

This concludes the preliminary rounds of the Quebec Bred Series for 4- and 5-year-old trotters and pacers. The top eight point earners in each division will return next week for the C$35,000 finals on Sunday (June 14).

Live racing resumes on Wednesday, post time at 7 p.m. The Hippodrome 3R is open seven days a week for simulcasting. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.