from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — When morning line favorite Wildriverbumblebee scratched sick for his second straight start, the Invitational Pace at the Hippodrome 3R became a wide-open affair, except that no one told that to Bali, who led from start to finish with ease in the eighth race feature on Sunday (Oct. 22).

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Bali collects his 10th win of 2017 at H3R on Sunday afternoon.

Leaving quickly from post five, Bali and driver Sylvain Lacaille sped to the opening quarter mile in :27.2 with Glass Shadow (Pierre Luc Roy) sitting the pocket trip and Crombie A (Brett Macdonald) parked out first-over.

Crombie A put pressure on Bali and they went to the half mile marker in a quick :55.4 and then once they reached the backstetch, Bali and Lacaille started to open up on the field. They led by 3-1/2 lengths at the three-quarters as no one else could try and mount a challenge until National Debt and driver Stephane Gendron made a three-wide brush going into the final turn.

But that effort was futile as Bali and at his best for Sylvain Lacaille and they won going away by six open lengths in 1:53.3. National Debut barely held off Rainbow Palace (Francis Picard) for place and show.

Not only was it the 10th win this year for Bali, a 6-year-old geled son of Dali, but also his third victory in his four starts for trainer Marie Claude Auger. Bali was bred and is owned by Denise Auger of Trois-Riveres and paid $6.70 to win.

Caroluzzo and driver Stephane Gendron has little trouble wiring the field in the seventh race feature trot, winning by 3-1/4 lengths in 2:00. It was his fifth win this year for trainer Daniel Martin and owner Michael Cote Gagnon of Terrebonne, paying $6.20 to win.

Track Notes: Driver Steeven Genois has the hot hands at H3R Sunday, scoring a driving triple. It was the first time this season that Genois has scored three winners on the race program.
Live racing resumes next Sunday with first race post time at 12:30 pm. For more information visit, www.quebecjockeyclub.com.