from the Quebec Jockey Club
Trois-Rivieres, PQ — Rebel Voyager and driver Stephane Gendron, who had yet to race against the favorite, Wildriverbumblebee, led from start to finish, and took the sting out of unbeaten Wildriverbumblebee at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday (July 16).
The eighth race was one of two divisions of the Breeders Cup Series for 3-year-old colt and filly pacers. After today’s race, the top eight point earners throughout the series return to H3R Sunday, Sept. 8 for their C$65,000 finals.
thephotodesk.ca photo
Rebel Voyager defeats Wildriverbumblebee.
The colt division saw Rebel Voyager, a 12-1 long shot and Gendron fly out to the early lead, by five open lengths at the first quarter in :27.3. Majo Lou Beka (Mario Lachance) was a distance second place.
Still leading by three lengths at the half-mile in :57.1 was when driver Stephane Brosseau came first-over with Wildriverbumblebee to take on Rebel Voyager. Unlike last week, Wildriverbumblebee was unable to collar Rebel Voyager as passed the three-quarters in 1:26.1.On the final turn, Wildriverbumblebee had enough and began to fade, eventually finishing in sixth place.
Rebel Voyager was still well in-hand for Gendron and went on to win with ease by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. C L Sportaction (Jonathan Lachance) was second with Noplay (Melanie Plourde) finishing third.
It was the 10th victory in 20 starts this year for Rebel Voyager and the time tied his lifetime mark set at Woodbine earlier this year. The chestnut gelding by Shanghai Phil, who is trained by Francis Richard, was bred and is owned by the ICR Racing Stable of Pefferlaw.
In the third race filly division of the Breeders Cup Series, YS Tallia was sent off as the overwhelming 1-9 betting favorite and gave her backers at the betting window quite a scare until the final strides to the wire.
The race start saw Chaleurs Melodie (Carl Duguay) leave from post six with 20-1 Kinnderuntouchable (Justin Filion) also leaving from post seven and those two went head-to-head for the early with Chaleurs Melodie breaking stride.
Filion then had control of the race after a :28.3 opening quarter-mile and then led the field to the half-mile marker in :59.1 and that is when YS Tallia with Gaetan Lamy in the sulky, came first-over against Kinnderuntouchable. They raced neck-and-neck past the three-quarters in 1:29.2 with Kinnderuntouchable holding off YS Tallia around the final turn.
As the two started down the stretch, YS Tallia began to bear out and Kinnderuntouchable tried to dig in but could not as YS Tallia was able to win by a half-length in 1:59.1. Sophies Cam (Pierre-Luc Roy) was third.
Duguay filed an objection again Filion for interference on the first turn but it was disallowed by the judges.
It was the third victory this year for YS Tallia, a daughter of Western Idea, who is trained by Michel Allard for owner/breeder Yves Sarrazin of Le Presentation. She paid just $2.10 to win.
Track Notes: Stephane Gendron had the hot hands among the drivers at H3R Sunday with a driving triple. It was the third time this year that Gendron posted a driving triple.
In the ninth race, driver Simon Delisle pulled off the biggest upset of the year, winning with Calgary Seelster at odds of 41-1, paying $84.80 to win. It was the fastest win on the card Sunday, 1:54.4, and the sixth win of the year for Calgary Seelster.
Live racing resumes at H3R on Tuesday evening with the third and final round of the Breeders Cup Series for 3-year-old trotting colts and fillies. There are three divisions but due to short fields they will be non-wagering races held after the second, fourth and sixth races on the betting card. First post is 7 p.m.