Lis Mara coasts in Montreal invitational

Rebounding off a disappointing fifth-place finish in his Winbak Pace division at the Delaware, Ohio fairgrounds on Little Brown Jug day, Lis Mara coasted to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $100,000(C) Rendez-Vous Des Champs Invitational Sunday at Hippodrome de Montreal.

With Brian Sears driving, Lis Mara got away fourth behind the leading Eagle Luck, who tripped the first-quarter timer in :27. With Anticipation was then moved to the lead, reaching the half in :54.3. It was then that Sears tipped Lis Mara to the outside, rushing to the front easily before reaching the three-quarters in 1:22.2. Opening up a three-length lead down the stretch, Lis Mara then went into cruise control and needed just a final quarter of :29.2 to reach the wire in 1:51.4.

Eagle Luck was able to re-rally for driver Simon Allard to finish second, with Sylvain Filion bringing With Anticipation home third.

The win was the ninth of the year for the 5-year-old son of Cambest, increasing his seasonal earnings to $974,355. The Erv Miller trainee now has career earnings of more than $2.2 million for owners Andy Willinger and MJG Racing Stables.

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