Petite Courageuse (fillies and mares) and China Grill (horses and geldings) won the two $15,000 finals of Les Series Quebecoises for four- and five-year-old Quebec-bred pacers that were held on Saturday afternoon at Hippodrome Quebec.
Godiva Beachgirl (Kevin Maguire) led the field of eight fillies and mares through fractions of :28.3, :59.3, and 1:31, but Petite Courageuse (Marcel Barrieau), who came first-over out of third at the half, was positioned second and only half a length behind the pace-setter at three-quarters.
Petite Courageuse, who was the favourite in the race, forged her way by Godiva Beachgirl in the lane, and the public choice pulled away late to prevail by a length and a half in 2:00.2. Godiva Beachgirl held second and Lady Luna (Sylvain Lacaille) finished third.
Barrieau also trains Petite Courageuse, a five-year-old daughter of Shanghai Phil, for owner Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc. Petite Courageuse, who was making her eighth start of the year, secured her second win of the campaign and her 12th career victory. She has earned $14,566 this season and $100,439 in her life.
The males took to the track in the eighth and final race on the card and Shanghai Tiger (Simon Allard) was in command at the 28 second opening quarter. He would then give way to Whitemountainpower (Stephane Brosseau), but Whitemountainpower would be immediately tackled by favourite D Gs Woodstock (Mario Charron), and D Gs Woodstock was a head in front on the outside at the :57.2 half.
D Gs Woodstock and Whitemountainpower would continue their tussle to the 1:27.4 three-quarters, and as the field turned for home, the top three horses, D Gs Woodstock, Whitemountainpower, and China Grill (Sylvain Lacaille), who had tracked D Gs Woodstock from second-over, were separated by just a head.
China Grill was able to take advantage of the trip and the battle between the leaders, though, as he came home in :31.1 to get up for the victory by three-parts of a length over Shanghai Tiger. Ghostbuster (Denis Audet) checked in third.
Andre Lachance trains China Grill, a four-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding, for owner/breeder Litwin Racing Team. China Grill is two-for-six in the win column this season, and this was his sixth career triumph. He has banked $13,675 on the campaign and $26,579 lifetime.
