from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, QC — Both Maximuscle and track record hold Viva Bayama were impressive winners at the Hippodrome 3R in the opening round of the C$125,000 Quebec-Bred Series for 4- and 5-year-old trotters on Wednesday (May 20).

There were four divisions, each racing for a purse of $6,150. There are three weeks of eliminations with the highest point earners returning on Sunday (June 14) for the C$35,000 finals in their respective divisions.

Sylvain Gagnon photo

Maximuscle breezed home to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58.4.

Maximuscle and driver Mario Charron had little trouble in capturing their division in the fourth race. Charron needed only to send Maximuscle to the lead and never looked back.

The 4-year-old stallion by Angus Hall showed his heels to the field, cutting fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.1, before breezing home to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:58.4. Andovers Touch (Stephane Pouliot) tried coming first-over at the half-mile marker and held on to be second with the pocket sitting George S (Stephane Brosseau) third.

It was the first start of the 2015 season for Maximuscle, who is trained by Maxime Velaye for owner/breeder Ecrurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC. The winner went off as the overwhelming race favorite at odds of 1-9 and paid just $2.10 to win.

The first division saw Somoli E and owner/driver Jerome Lombart sit a perfect two-hole trip behind pacesetter SOS Masters Boy (Jocelyn Gendron) and then after a battle down the stretch, win by a neck in 2:02.3. SOS Robocop (Pascal Berube), after racing first-over, faded to be third.

It was the first win in two starts this year for Somoli E, a 4-year-old son of Mr Lavec trained by Andreane Lapierre. He paid $4.50 to win.

Viva Bayama and driver Denis St. Pierre were able to race parked out first-over the entire mile and still were able to grind it out in the fourth race first division for older mares.

Canbec Kangourou (Jocelyn Gendron) left out of the gate and cut the mile as St. Pierre was content to race first-over. Viva Bayama finally cleared to the lead before the head of the stretch and then held off a fast closing Bambie Benjo (Rheo Filion) to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:01.3. Canbec Kangourou faded in the stretch and finished third.

It was the fifth win in eight starts this year for Viva Bayama. The 4-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass is trained by Sebastien Groux for owners Richard Dinelle and Andre St. Laurent. She paid $4.40 to win.

The sixth race second division was won by Ocean Mist Beauty and driver Stephane Brosseau. They cleared to the lead before the opening quarter, which saw the first four horses all try for the early lead, and Ocean Mist Beauty then led the rest of the one mile trot, winning by three-quarters of a length in 2:02. Lucyll Bro (Stephane Gendron) sat the pocket trip to be second with Sexy P V (Steeve Genis) third.

The 5-year-old mare by Kadabra posted her first win in five starts this year for owner/trainer Carl Duguay of Gatineau, QC. She paid 3.20 to win.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R with the opening round of the C$125,000 Quebec-Bred Series for 4- and 5-year-old trotters. Post time is 1:30 p.m. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.