It’s that time of year when the two-year-olds begin to make their pari-mutuel debuts across the nation and at Hippodrome 3R.
On Sunday (July 10) the third race features a field of nine two-year-old colt and filly pacers, with two colts and seven fillies slated to head behind the starting gate.
The morning line favourite is an entry from the stable of Daniel Dulude and owner-breeder Bruno Lepage of Beauharnois comprised of Hes Watching progeny Got Beach Body and Got Lucky Watching.
Got Beach Body is the stronger part of the entry and starts from post two for driver Jonathan Lachance. In her last qualifier at Rideau Carleton Raceway, she finished fourth and was race-timed in 2:01. She is the second foal from the Somebeachsomewhere mare Nips Beach Girl, a 1:52 winner with more than $163,000 in earnings.
Got Lucky Watching goes from post four for driver Daniel Dulude and was timed in 2:06 in his only qualifier.
3R’s leading trainer, Sylvain Tremblay, has two of his homebreds in the race. They are Neptune Alpha (a Control The Moment filly) and Albert Alpha (a Hes Watching colt).
Both youngsters were second in their last qualifiers over a sloppy 3R racetrack with a three second allowance.
The two-year-old to watch in the race is River Sena from the rail. She is a filly by Windfall Blue Chip for co-owner, trainer and breeder Serge Nadeau of Scott. She won both of her qualifiers at 3R, leading from start to finish and will be driven by Mario Lachance.
Completing the field are Godiva Shadow Girl (Shadow Play) from post three, GA Speed Matrix (Windfall Blue Chip) in post five, Vent Du Sud (Leader Bayama) has post seven and Ellenski (Sportswriter) in post nine.
La Petite Gris (Sportswriter), the top pacing mare at 3R this season, goes for her sixth win of the season at HR Sunday in the second race Preferred-Handicap Pace for the mares. She is tied now with Windsun Cheyenne and Platine Alpha, each with five wins, as the winningest horses at H3R this season.
Pascal Berube will, as always, drive La Petite Grise, who starts from post seven and is going for her third straight win.
The top horses do battle in the ninth race Preferred-Handicap Pace with D Gs De Vito (Sportswriter) the horse to beat.
The last two weeks D Gs De Vito has been at his best. In his last start he became the fastest horse at H3R this year, romping by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. It was a lifetime mark for D Gs De Vito and his third win on the season. He will be driven by Jonathan Lachance.
Another return winner in the field from last week’s top pace is Spectrum Seelster from post one for driver Francis Picard. They led from start to finish in 1:55.1.
First race post time Sunday is 12:00 noon at 3R. To view entries for the Sunday card of harness racing at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)