by Steven Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — Even Mother Nature, with rains that turned the track sloppy, could not put a damper on the final live harness racing card of the season at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (Nov. 1).

It was a special day for Maxime Velaye, as he won his first training title at the Hippodrome 3R.

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Maxime Velaye won his first training title at the Hippodrome 3R.

The driving title came down to the very last race on the program and Denis St Pierre, who was not driving on the card, still won the title in a dramatic finish over Mario Charron, 48-47. Charron had a driving triple at 3R Sunday. For St Pierre, it is his second straight driving title at the Hippodrome 3R.

Velaye came into the final race program of the season leading all trainers with 19 wins. Then with both of Jean Tourigny’s (18 wins) horses entered on Sunday late scratches, Velaye won the title before the race program got underway. He closed out the season with 20 wins.

“This is my first training title ever,” said Velaye. “And how great it is. This is my first season back in Quebec after seven years in Ontario. So great to win this, coming back home and doing what I love.

“I had only wished that Mario (Charron) was able to win the last race. Then he would have been tied for the driving title and we could celebrate our titles together.”

In the eighth race Open Trot feature, Charron and three-time Quebec-Bred Series champion Maximuscle, showed their heels to the field.

They took the lead away from Beer Mags (Kevin Maguire) after an opening quarter-mile in a speedy :28.4. They backed off the pace, held the field at bay and then poured it on down the stretch to win with ease by 3-1/2 lengths. Beer Mags held for second with Vial Angus (Jocelyn Gendron) third. Time of the race was 2:04.1.

It was the ninth win on the year for Maximuscle. The 4-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall posted trainer Maxime Velaye’s 20th win of the season. Maximuscle is owned and was bred by Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC and paid $3.30 to win as the wagering favorite.

That victory for Charron put him within one win, 47, of tying Denis St Pierre at 48 for the driving title at 3R. With three wins already on the card, Charron needed only to win the 12th and last race on the program to tie for the title.

He was driving Cliff Drummond, the 1-5 favorite, and led nearly the entire mile, losing to a first-over and very determined Montezuma Bluechip and driver Stephane Gendron by a half-length.

The tenth race Open Pace was the fastest mile on the sloppy track as race favorite D Gs Woodstock (Pascal Berube) just held off the pocket-sitting The Platinum Guy (Jonathan Lachance) to win by a short head in 2:01. Akoya (Jocelyn Gendron) was third.

It was the seventh win on the year for D Gs Woodstock, an 8-year-old gelded son of Yankee Cam who is trained by Guylaine Fortin for owner Daniel Surprenant of Saint-Valentin, QC and paid $3.60 to win.

The Hippodrome 3R will be open for simulcasting seven days a week featuring the best Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing action in North America. For the simulcast calendar schedule go to www.quebecjockeyclub.com.