Trois-Rivieres, QC — It was Francis Picard Day at the Hippodrome 3R as the harness racing driver won five races on the Sunday (Oct. 28) program including the final of the Quebec Plus Series.

Despite pouring rain that listed the track as sloppy with a three second allowance, Picard could do no wrong on the racetrack.

In the ninth race final of the Quebec Plus Series for 3-, 4- and 5-year-old pacers, it was a battle from start to finish.

Ernie Panic was a 2:02.2 winner. Thephotodesk.ca photo.

Encore Panic (Jocelyn Gendron) started off the show taking the early lead to the opening quarter when stablemate/entry Ernie Panic and Francis Picard came shooting to the lead before the half-mile marker. It was then that Pierre Luc Roy had the race favorite, Lune Bleu, on the move first-over and they raced that way through the backstretch and the three-quarters, going head and head for the lead.

As they started down the stretch, Picard and Ernie Panic dug in once again, putting away Lune Bleu and then holding off the late charge by Hercule J M (Pascal Berube) to win by a half-length in 2:02.2. Encore Panic was third with Lune Bleu fourth.

It was the fifth win this season for Ernie Panic. The 4-year-old stallion by Mach Three is trained by Francis Richard and was bred and is owned by Brian Paquet. He paid $7.90 to win.

In the fourth race Preferred Pace a real dogfight took place between Allstar Seelster and Wild River Swan, Tyler Jones vs. Jocelyn Gendron.

It was Allstar Seelster that took the early lead but Jones had Wild River Swan on the bit and they took command after a :28.3 opening quarter. Then it was Jones and Allstar Seelster coming back by the half-mile in :58 and retaking the lead away from Wild River Swan and from there the race was history.

Jones had momentum with Allstar Seelster and they pulled away from the field, leading by five lengths at the three-quarters in 1:28 with Wild River Swan beginning to fade. Then in the stretch, Allstar Seelster won with ease by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:58.4 over the muddy track. Rainbow Palace (Francis Picard) was second with Hooter Shooter (Stephane Brosseau) third.

It was the sixth win this year for Allstar Seelster. The 7-year-old gelded son of Artistic Fella is trained by Marc Andre Simoneau and owned by Aurel Harvey Et Fils, Inc. He paid $15.80 to win.

Track Notes: H3R’s leading driver Stephane Brosseau had one win and now leads the driver standing with 46 wins to Pascal Berune’s 38. Live racing resumes next Sunday, first race post time 12:50 p.m. For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.