from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — Two-year-old trotter Wildwild Men rewrote a 22-year-old harness racing track record at the Hippodrome 3R Wednesday (Aug. 26) in capturing the first of two elimination divisions of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series.

Photodesk.ca photo

Wildwild Men was a winner in a track record time of 2:00.3.

Driven by Robert Shepherd, Wildwild Men traded control of the early lead with Panama’s Boy (Stephane Brosseau) and they sped to a quick opening quarter in :28.2. Once settled on the lead and in control, Shepherd and Wildwild Men backed down the pace as they led the field past the half-mile marker in 1:00.

Then in the backstretch, Sass and driver Clarke Steacy came first-over to try and mount a challenge, but Wildwild Men would have nothing to do with that and he kicked in another gear after the three-quarters in 1:31.2.

By the top of the stretch, Wildwild Men was leading by 4-1/2 lengths and then poured it on with a :29.1 last quarter to win in a romp by 6-1/2 open lengths in 2:00.3.

The prior track record for 2-year-old trotters was 2:01.3 set by Jobie Tempest (Claude St-Jacques) in 1993.

Trained by Isabelle Darveau and co-owned by Catheline Pelletier with breeder Chantal Gravel, it was the third straight win for Wildwild Men. The gelded son of Muscle Mass now has four wins in seven starts this year. He paid just $2.30 to win.

In the fourth race, second division, KFB Amigo Cool and driver Guy Gagnon were able to stay on stride and wire the field, scoring an upset over the 1-5 race favorite, Tuscans Memory (Pascal Berube).

KFB Amigo Cool went right out to the early lead, stuffing a determined SOS Chico (Jocelyn Gendron) into the pocket seat to the opening quarter in :29. KFB Amigo Cool then led to the half-mile in 1:01.2 when Berube came first-over with Tuscans Memory.

Past the three-quarters in 1:32.3, KFB Amigo Cool would not give ground to Tuscans Memory as they battled head and head for the lead. Tuscans Memory then went wide as they started down the stretch and could not catch KFB Amigo Cool, who won by 1-1/4 lengths in 2:03. Defi Normand (Pierre Bovay) was third.

Sent off at odds of 6-1, KFB Amigo Cool paid $14.00 to win. It was the maiden victory after four lifetime starts for the ridgling son of Amigo Hall, who is trained by Dany Fontaine for owner/breeder Investissement K F B.

This was the third and final preliminary round of the series. Now the top eight point earners from the filly and colt divisions return on Sunday (Sept. 6) for their respective C$65,000 finals. On Sunday the 2-year-old pacing colts and fillies compete in their third round of the series. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.