On Sunday (June 19), the Hippodrome 3R hosts the final preliminary rounds of the Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old pacers. Post time is 1:30 p.m.
Once completed, the top eight point-earners from the four preliminary rounds will join the trotters on Sunday, June 26 for their $35,000 finals in their respective divisions per sex and gait.
The horses and geldings are first on the program in race three and featured are three return winners in the field.
The race favourite is C L Art Magic from the rail for driver/trainer Yves Filion. This five-year-old gelded son of Artistic Fella has but one second-place finish in the series, but last week proved his merit as race favourite by wiring the field at Rideau Carlton Raceway in a start in 1:55.3, the last quarter-mile in :28.
Mach On The Beach from post four was on his best game last week at 3R for driver Pascal Berube, leading from start to finish in 1:55.4 in his first win of the season for trainer Dany Fontaine.
And Electric Western returns from a week’s rest in post five for driver Richard Simard. He has scored from off the pace in 1:55 and looms as a major threat in the race for trainer Rene Dion.
Perhaps the horse to fear the most in the field is Sugarsam from post two. Although he is a track record holder at 3R at age two and won the Quebec-Bred Series final last year, Sugarsam is winless in 10 starts this year for trainer Yves Tessier. Sugarsam has been second and third in his last two starts at 3R and will be driven for the first time by Stephane Brosseau. He is the class of the field with more than $100,000 in career earnings and could be poised to be the upset winner in this very competitive field.
The mares are spotlighted in the eighth race where Chaleurs Fantasy and trainer/driver Carl Duguay look to rebound from their tough loss last week.
Chaleurs Fantasy starts from post five and until last week had been perfect in winning the first two preliminary rounds. Then last week, she met up with a very determined Miss Bro and those two battled neck and neck to the wire with Miss Bro getting up in the final strides to win by a head in 1:59.
Miss Bro goes from post four for driver Pascal Berube. Also contenders in the race are last year’s series champion, Voodoo Charm (post two), Wanda Bayama (post six) and HP Rubis Joyce (post one).
TRACK NOTES: There are now 20 four-year-old pacers eligible for the $200,000 Prix D’Ete at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, August 21. Heading the list is none other than the 2015 Harness Horse of the Year and the top pacer already in 2016, Wiggle It Jiggleit. Other top contenders include Rockin Ron, Rodeo Romeo, Rockin In Heaven, In the Arsenal and My Hero Ron. The top eight money-earners in 2016 that enter the Prix D’Ete will get their noses on the starting gate.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)