Redwood Hanover Shocks Field to Win C$200,000 Prix d’Été

In a thrilling display of determination, 14-1 longshot Redwood Hanover, driven by Jonathan Drury, overcame the odds to claim victory in the C$200,000 Prix d’Été for four-year-old pacers on Sunday, August 18, at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. This marked the 33rd edition of the Prix d'Ete, which returned after a four-year hiatus.

As the race progressed down the backstretch, It’s My Show began to falter. Huntinthelastdolar seized the lead, but Redwood Hanover, driven strongly by Drury, remained poised and ready. The two competitors were neck and neck rounding the final turn and entering the stretch, where Redwood Hanover gradually wore down Huntinthelastdolar, crossing the finish line first by one and one-quarter lengths in a swift 1:52.2. Huntinthelastdolar finished second, while No Control (Jody Jamieson) secured third place.

This win marked the fastest mile of the year at Hippodrome 3R and was also Redwood Hanover’s second victory of the season. The stallion is trained by Anthony Beaton, who co-owns the horse with Mac Nichol-Mckinlay & Fielding and David Mercer. At the betting windows, Redwood Hanover returned a generous $30.90 to those who placed a wager on him.

Drury reflected on the race, stating, “He really raced well in his last start at Mohawk, and I know he has a big kick. I just needed them to rough it up a bit, which they did, and things worked out in our favour. When they started to clear in the backstretch, I still had a ton of horse. I figured we could give him (Huntinthelastdolar) a good run to the finish, and my horse was covered up enough to get the job done. I felt good coming off the last turn.”

In addition to the Prix d’Été, the Quebec Jockey Club hosted the final preliminary round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies.

The lone $10,000 division for the fillies featured a dominant performance by the overwhelming 1/9 favourite, One More Bet (All Bets Off), driven by Daniel Dube. She easily took the lead and finished with a commanding seven and one-quarter lengths victory in 1:56.1.

The first of two divisions for colts saw Ambitious Mind (Big Jim) and driver Francis Picard pulling off a narrow wire-to-wire win in 1:57.1. The second colt division was won by the heavily favoured Boomboom Tonight (Sportswriter), who easily led his race and finished in 1:57, marking his fourth victory in the last five starts.

Overall, the event at Hippodrome 3R showcased exciting harness racing, thrilling performances, and impressive victories for both drivers and horses alike.