from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — Viva Bayama rewrote an 18-year-old track record Sunday (Aug. 3) at the Hippodrome 3R for 3-year-old trotting fillies in scoring her third straight victory.

Sylvain Gagnon photo

Viva Bayama rewrote an 18-year-old track record Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R.

Competing in a $6,900 division of the Quebec-bred series for trotters and pacers, trainer/driver Yves Filion allowed his filly by Muscle Mass to follow pacesetter Y S Majestic Girl (Stephane Brosseau) through fast early fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:29.3.

Then moving out to take the lead by the top of the stretch, Viva Bayama pulled away in the stretch to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:59.2. Y S Majestic Girl held for second with Lucyll Bro (Stephane Gendron) third. Viva Bayama paid $2.60 to win.

It was a lifetime mark for Viva Bayama, who was bred and is owned by Filion’s Bayama Farms and her time surpassed the previous track mark of 2:00.1 that was originally set by Emilie Cas El in 1995.

The fastest mile of the five divisions was set in the eighth race for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings when Atomic Million AM missed tying the track record by one fifth of a second with his 1:53 triumph.

Driver Sylvain Lacaille sent Atomic Million AM right to the lead with Hall Bro (Stephane Brosseau) sitting right on their backs through fast fractions of :26.4, :56.2 and 1:25.1. Hall Bro, who was on a three-race winning streak, tried his best but could not catch Atomic Million AM as he kicked in a :27.4 last quarter to win by a half-length. Bali (Marie Auger) was third.

It was the ninth win in 12 starts this year for the gelded son of Million Dollar Cam who paid $3.60 to win.

The track record for 3-year-olds is 1:52.4 set by Duc Dorleans in 2013.

There were two $6,900 divisions for 3-year-old pacing fillies and the fastest division went to Champagne Shower and driver Denis St. Pierre. They led from start to finish in 1:56.4, romping by 5-1/2 lengths over Bemmol Kalie (Melane Plourde) and C L Infinite (Marie Auger). It was the fourth straight win for Champagne Shower, a daughter of Santanna Blue Chip.

The first division saw Tango Bayama come from off the pace for driver/trainer Rheo Filion to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.1. Ladylyonne (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Canbec Lindor (Denis St. Pierre) third.

It was a maiden victory for the filly by No Pan Intended after 15 career starts. She is also owned by Filion and paid $8.40 to win.

In the seventh race division for trotting colts and geldings, Maximuscle and driver Mario Charron led from start to finish with an easy victory by two lengths in 1:59.3. Andovers Touch (Stephane Brosseau) was second with Monster Mass (Claude Larose) third.

It was the fifth win in seven starts this year for the son of Angus Hall who paid $2.90 to win.

This was the final of four preliminary rounds of competition in the Quebec-bred series. The top eight point earners in each division will now return to the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Sept. 7) for the C$65,000 finals.

Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Tuesday evening with first race post time at 7 p.m. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.