Light The Torch (Always B Miki) demonstrated why co-owner and harness racing trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau has high hopes for him in the upcoming $200,000 Prix d’Ete at Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in August. The four-year-old pacer secured the fastest win of the season at H3R on Sunday (June 16) during the 9th race, a $6,500 Preferred-Handicap Pace, the main event of the day.
With Pascal Berube as the driver, Light The Torch swiftly took the lead from Uncontrollable (Marie-Claude Auger) by the first quarter in :28.1. Maintaining a strong pace, Light The Torch clocked fractions of :57.2 at the half-mile and 1:26.1 at three-quarters. As Auger pulled Uncontrollable to challenge around the final turn, Berube lightly lifted the lines, allowing Light The Torch to pull away effortlessly in the stretch. The gelding finished two lengths ahead of Uncontrollable, clocking in at 1:54.2. Acapulco Sunburn (Francis Picard) came in third. This marked Light The Torch’s fifth win of the season for Marc-Andre Simoneau and co-owner Jean Fontaine, paying $2.50 to win.
In the 3rd race, a $5,000 Preferred II Pace, Jessica Turenne made a bold move with Doc Houston (Sportswriter), seizing the lead after the half-mile and fending off Sports Bettor (Denis St. Pierre) in the stretch to claim victory. Sports Bettor, initially led by Pierre, took the lead from Latte Seelster (Marie-Claude Auger) in the opening quarter in :28.3. Brodys Scrapper (Pascal Berube), the race favourite, moved to the front by the half-mile in :59.2, with Doc Houston trailing second-over. Doc Houston surged ahead into the backstretch, with Sports Bettor close behind, pulling away at the three-quarters in 1:28.2. In a fierce stretch drive, Doc Houston managed to hold off Sports Bettor by half a length, finishing in 1:56.4, with Do You See It (Steven Gagnon) securing third. This win marked Doc Houston's third victory of the season. Owned and trained by Yannick Marquis of Mascouche, Que., Doc Houston paid $8.90 to win.
Track notes include driving doubles by both Marie-Claude Auger and Pascal Berube, and a training double for Marc-Andre Simoneau, who also drove a winner in one of the two amateur races. Live racing will continue at H3R on Friday, June 21 at 4:00 pm.