from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, QC — There were three divisions of the opening round of the C$125,000 Quebec-Bred Series on Sunday (May 24) at the Hippodrome 3R and all three winners did it leading from start to finish.

The series is for 4- and 5-year-old mares and horses. After three rounds of elimination competition the top eight point earners will return to 3R on Sunday (June 14) for the C$35,000 finals.

Sylvain Gagnon photo

Atomic Million AM was a 1:55.3 winner.

Atomic Million AM and driver Sylvain Lacalle were the overwhelming 1-9 wagering favorite and they nearly got caught at the wire in the fifth race division for older horses.

Leaving from post three, Lacalle sent Atomic Million AM right to the front with Bali (Stephanie Brosseau) sitting right on their backs through an opening fraction of :27.4, then a soft second quarter of :59.3. D J Power (Louis Roy) tried slowly to work his way first-over but could only manage to get in third place by the three-quarters in 1:26.4.

And as they started down the stretch, Bali tried to come after the leader in vain as Atomic Million AM went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.3. Bali held for second with My Lucky Bluejeans (Stephane Gendron) third.

It was the third win in five starts for Atomic Million AM. The 4-year-old gelded son of Million Dollar Cam is owned and trained by Alan Martin of Gatineau, QC, and paid just $2.10 to win.

The first division, second race, for older mares saw Victoria Semalu and driver Stephane Brosseau ease out to the early lead from post four and quickly stuffed early challenger Lutetia Semalu (Stephane Polliot) into a backseat trip.

Victoria Semalu and Brosseau then had quite the easy time, cutting fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:26.4 and then came home to romp by six open lengths in 1:56.1. Lutetia Semalu held her position to finish second with C L Royal Star (Jocylen Gendron) third.

It was the second win in five starts for Victoria Semalu, who is trained by Dany Fontaine and owned by the Ecurie Gaetan Bono, Inc. of Montreal, QC. She paid $2.60 to win.

The sixth race second division for mares saw the biggest romp of the day as Champagne Shower and driver Denis St. Pierre held nothing back in wiring the field by 11 lengths.

Starting from post five, St. Pierre sent Champagne Shower to the lead and held the field at bay with first half fractions of :28.4 and :59.4, They picked up the pace, leading by five lengths at the three-quarters in 1:28.1.

She then gave St. Pierre a :28.3 final quarter and pulled away from the field, winning in 1:56.4. Hawaiian Drummond (Mario Charron) was second with Cyndalianne Duc (Pierre Desjardins) third.

Paying just $2.10 to win, it was the 4-year-old daughter of Santanna Blue Chip’s third win this year and third victory in her last four starts for trainer Yves Tessier and owner/breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, QC.

Live racing resumes Wednesday with the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older trotters. Post time is 7 p.m. For more information go to www.quebecjockeyclub.com.