from harness publicists across North America

Sunday’s (Oct. 11) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Hippodrome 3R and Oak Ridge Estate.

Gendron nips Roy by 1 point to win 3R Tournament

Trois-Rivieres, Quebec — From the photo finish in the first heat of the Hippodrome 3R’s 4th annual Drivers Tournament Sunday (Oct. 11), to the final deciding heat, the action was fast, furious and muddy throughout the day.

Photodesk.ca photo

Stephane Gendron defeated fellow driver Louis-Philippe Roy by one point to win Sunday’s Drivers Tournament at Hippodrome 3R.

When the dust (actually mud as it rained hard prior to the races) settled, harness driver Stephane Gendron squeaked by Louis-Philippe Roy to capture the tournament in the final heat of the eight races of the contest by just one point, 170 to 169.

Gendron had won three of the eight races while Roy captured two heats, but it was a fourth place finish in the final race of the competition that sealed the victory for Gendron.

Roy, who was driving the 3-4 race favorite, Cliff Drummond, could not get the pacer up to the starting gate and got away in ninth place and was unable to make up enough ground during the race and finished sixth. Gendron was fourth with Johnny Day. If Roy had finished once position better in the last race he would have won the tournament.

“This was the first time I have ever won a driving tournament,” said Stephane Gendron. “It was very exciting today. When you are in a tournament you always have a chance to win, it’s the reason why you are there. If you are not in the tournament you have no chance.

“I was never sure that I would win today even after I won three of the races,” Gendron said. “I did not think my horse in the last heat (Johnny Day) was good enough to get any points but he raced very well and helped me win the tournament.”

Finishing third in the competition was Mario Charron with 99 points, nipping Robert Shepherd with 98 points. Gaetan Lamy was a late substitute for Simon Allard.

Nearly all of the eight races in the tournament saw early dogfights, three-wide moves and exciting stretch drives. The very first race saw Robert Shepherd with Pop Goes Theweasel take an early lead in the tournament with a long nose victory over Tiguan Seelster and driver Mario Charron.

Other drivers that won heats of the tournament were Gaetan Lamy and Jocelyn Gendron.

3R Drivers Tournament Point Standings

1st Stephane Gendron 170

2nd Louis-Phillipe Roy 169

3rd Mario Charron 99

4th Robert Shepherd 98

5th Jocelyn Gendron 83

6th Denis St Pierre 74

7th Gaetan Lamy 69

8th Pascal Berube 36

9th Stephane Brosseau 30

Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R next Sunday with first race post time at 1:30 pm. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

— Steve Wolf

Oak Ridge Estate
Trainer Charlie Dunavant swept both Virginia-bred 2-year-trotting prep races Sunday afternoon at Nelson County’s Oak Ridge Estate as opening weekend festivities continued in advance of next Sunday’s $320,000 “Champions Day” card. Cicada’s Song captured the $5,000 filly division warm-up in 2:14.1 while Elton J won the male counterpart in 2:06.2. Driver Carlo Poliseno was the common factor in both, though they came in completely different fashion. The first was a blowout win against two other foes who both broke stride in the non-betting race, while the latter one capped off a thrilling stretch duel with Speedy Taxi, winning by a neck. Cicada’s Song, who is now 3-for-3, got her first two wins at Harrington in identical 2:01.1 times, the most recent of which came in a $20,000 Delaware state-bred event. Elton J, a Dusty Winner gelding, came to the Commonwealth fresh off a runner-up in the same series at Delaware. Jane Dunavant of Kenbridge, Virginia, owns the pair. John’s Dream took advantage of an extended early pocket trip in the colt/gelding pace, cruised past front stepping Patrick’s Day in deep stretch and earned a one length triumph in 2:04.4. The Dream Away colt, who only faced a pair of competitors in the prep, is owned and trained by Chuck Perry, who also guided Hot Jenna to victory in the Virginia-bred filly pace for trainer Mark Gray. Gray’s pacer was one of three he had in the race, and that trio provided the most exciting finish of the weekend in a very tight three horse photo. Starting among a field of seven, just a nose separated Gray’s group at the wire. He guided Motel Molly to a second place finish and Frank Milby directed his other charge, Flying Pirate, to third. Only two of the entrants, including runner-up Motel Molly, had made a start prior to Sunday. Cody Poliseno, the 21-year-old son of Carlo Poliseno, earned his second driving win ever and third sulky victory Sunday for the family. He guided Carlo’s Collect The Brass to victory over several other high earners in wire-to-wire fashion in a $5,000 winners over trot. “I thought we had a real shot with him,” said Cody. “The focus seemed to be on Sam Hayes but coming to the gate, my horse had so much energy I took him right to the front and he held strong the whole mile.” The 9-year-old CR Commando gelding crossed in 1:56.3, just two-fifths of a second off his lifetime best mark. The Oak Ridge meet continues next weekend with cards Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and closing day on Sunday at 1 p.m.