After a two-week break for the Grand Prix auto races throughout the town of Trois-Rivieres, Que., live harness racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R on Tuesday evening (August 16).
The Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotters headlines the return program with divisions for both the colts and fillies. This is the third of four weeks of preliminary round action. The top eight point-earners in the series then return to 3R on Sunday, September 4 for their respective $65,000 finals.
A maiden performer who has never started in a purse race is the morning line favourite in the first race division for trotting colts. Real Lucky Day, a son of Donato Hanover bred and owned by Ecuries R L Belanger of Laval, Que., starts from post six for driver Stephane Brosseau. The Ontario invader has won his last three qualifying races, and last week was very impressive at Mohawk Racereack for driver Sylvain Filion, winning by four and one-half lengths in 1:57.3.
The competition will be keen in the first race at Real Lucky Day takes on prior winners Capteur De Reve (post five) and Kinnder Dangerous (post four). Capteur De Reve was first and second in the opening rounds of the Future Stars Series and last week tried his luck in an $18,000 division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series at Rideau Carlton Raceway, and raced well in finishing fourth.
The trotting fillies get underway in the third race and owning the spotlight is the rivalry of both of the first two divisional winners in the series, Joyce Lavec and Taurus P V.
Taurus P V starts from post three for driver Stephane Brosseau. She won her opening round division, leading from start to finish. But the next week, Taurus P V tried the same tactic on the front end and that worked out for the pocket-sitting Joyce Lavec, who came on strong at the finish for driver Pascal Berube to beat Taurus P V. It will be good to see this rivalry continue. And perhaps lurking in the race and looking for an opportunity to score an upset will be Affirmee (post four), who has been third in both of the first two legs of the series. Joyce Lavec will start from post five.
TRACK NOTES: Wiggle It Jiggleit, fresh off his 1:49.1 victory over Always B Miki, All Bets Off and Shamballa in the $325,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park on Friday, is expected to head up to 3R for the $200,000 Prix D’Ete next Sunday. The Prix D’Ete is for four-year-old pacers and the post position draw luncheon takes place Wednesday.
On Sunday, the red-hot Strokin is the favourite at the Hippodrome de la Vallée in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, Que. for their annual Five-Mile Race. Nine pacers will go 10 laps around the half-mile oval. Strokin set the world record at 3R on July 31 in a two-mile race and he will be driven again on Sunday by 3R’s leading driver, Louis-Philippe Roy. Strokin is trained by Yves Tessier.
Post time Tuesday evening at 3R is 7 p.m. For a free race program and live video via the internet, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view Tuesday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)