Trainer/driver Carl Duguay is looking for a big racing day at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, as he has two horses competing in the finals of the Quebec-Bred Series.
Each of the four finals for four and five-year-old pacers and trotters race for a purse of $30,000. Duguay and his family-owned Chaleurs Breeding Farm have the morning line favourite in one division and the fourth choice in another division.
“I like the posts that we drew for Sunday,” Duguay said. “It is a good post for Viva Bayama (Post 6). I am glad she drew that one. And Post 2 for Chaleurs Fantasy is very good. That is perfect for her.
“We have been in the harness racing business for many years,” Duguay explained. “My father, Gaston, is 73 and has been in the business for most of his life. It is a family business, as my brother, Eric, is also involved along with myself.
“I have just five racehorses with me near Trois-Rivieres to race at the Hippodrome 3R,” Duguay said. “I train them … we have another 20 horses at our farm in Port-Daniel, Quebec, mostly broodmares and younger horses that Dad and Eric care for. When they are ready to race they send them to me.
“The breeding farm name of Elevage Baie Des Chaleurs comes from the region outside of Quebec called Chaleurs Bay,” Duguay explained. “It is the arm of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence between Quebec and New Brunswick. It is where we are from in Port-Daniel.
“We bred Chaleurs Fantasy and I raced her at age two and three until after the Quebec-Bred Series at 3R. Then I [sent] her to the USA to Hedi Rohr at Saratoga Raceway and she did very well with her. After the final this Sunday I will send her back to Hedi. She (Chaleurs Fantasy) is the best horse we have ever bred and raced from Chaleurs Farm.”
A daughter of Omar Khayam, Chaleurs Fantasy has over $100,000 in earnings. Last year, she won 10 times with a record of 1:53.1. This year, she has three wins in four starts. Her only loss was by a slim head in the Quebec-Bred Series to Miss Bro. Last week in the final preliminary round, Duguay and Charleurs Fantasy led from start to finish in 1:57.1 by two and one-half lengths.
Duguay will send Viva Bayama out on Sunday as a mild 4-1 longshot from post six in the sixth race final for trotting mares.
This daughter of Muscle Mass is also a $100,000 career winner, but not for Duguay, who bought the mare at the end of the season last year.
“I claimed Viva Bayama last year after she was done racing in the series at 3R,” Duguay explained. “They were racing her in claimers and I got her for $10,000. I was very happy to have her in my stable.”
Not only has Viva Bayama won the series finals the last two years, she also set the 3R track record at age three in 2014. But she has not been as good now at age five, having just one win from 11 starts. Fortunately, that victory came in a division of the series to enable her to make it into Sunday’s finale.
“I think she will do very well on Sunday,” Duguay said. “I am not driving her. I put Denis St. Pierre on her because he knows the mare. He won the final with her last year.”
So what is this ability that Carl Duguay seems to have with the fillies and mares over the colts and horses?
“I like the mares,” Duguay said. “I talk with them,” Duguay joked. “They need lots of attention. I think my key to success with the mares is patience. You must have lot of patience with horses, especially mares. You have to really know and understand them.”
So what does the future hold for the Duguay Stable after this Sunday’s Quebec-Bred Series Finals?
“I think I have the best three-year-old trotting filly for the Breeders Cup Series that starts at 3R on July 3,” Duguay proudly said.
“Her name is Y S Suzanne and I predict that she will break the track record at 3R this season,” Duguay added. “And not just the filly trot record of Viva Bayama she did last year in 1:59.2, but the colt record, too! (Lukes Pierre 1:58.2 in 2003) as I think she is that good."
After having made only six starts at age two, Duguay purchased the daughter of Angus Hall from owner/breeder Yves Sarrazin. Her lone victory was a big one last year, in the $41,000 Quebec-Bred Series final at 3R in 2:03.3.
“I see this filly has such ability,” Duguay said. “I already schooled her at 3R in 2:00 and she gets better every start.”
What will Carl Duguay do to celebrate if one of his mares wins on Sunday?
“Ha ha ha,” Duguay laughed. “If we do well or not on Sunday we will go out to dinner after the races with family and friends and have a very good time!”