The question for this Sunday’s card of harness racing at Hippodrome 3R is who can take the sting out of Wildriverbumblebee?

Undefeated in his first two starts, Wildriverbumblebee looks to make it three straight wins in the Breeders Cup Series for three-year-old pacers. He heads a field of nine colts and geldings and starts from post three for driver Stephane Brosseau in the eighth race.

Can it be Majo Lou Beka (post four) or Rebel Voyager (post five), maybe C L Sportaction (post seven) or perhaps Noplay (post eight)? Most of the eight rivals in the race have already lost to Wildriverbumblebee.

There is a lot at stake in Sunday’s race as it is the last preliminary round of the series, and points are much needed to ensure a spot as only the top eight will go in the $65,000 Championship Finals on Sunday, September 3.

Last week Wildriverbumblebee and Brosseau came first-over against race leader C L Sportaction (Jonathan Lachance) and was able to grind it out first-over from the half mile, collaring C L Sportaction at the top of the stretch and then winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.1.

“I am pretty pleased with the way Wildriverbumblebee has started his season,” said breeder/owner Dr. John Bradbury. “But every race is a new start. There are some pretty nice colts in the three-year-old division this season. Once the gate is on its way, anything can happen!”

Majo Lou Beka won his division last week in 1:57.2 for driver Jonathan Lachance and looms a definite threat to Wildriverbumblebee on Sunday as these two have not yet met face-to-face. Mario Lachance will be driving Majo Lou Beka.

Rebel Voyager (Stephane Gendron) was second to Major Lou Beka last week, and in the opening round of the series was a 1:57.4 winner. Noplay has the worst of post position with the eight hole but last week was a game third to Wildriverbumblebee.

So, it could well be a calvary charge throughout the race on Sunday as Wildriverbumblebee is already a shoo-in to be in the final, but everyone else in the race will be gunning for him as well as a shot at the $65,000 final in September.

The fillies do battle earlier on the card in the third race, also with nine starters.

YS Tallia will be the overwhelming favourite in the race as she already sports a major stake win and $43,000 earned this year in eight starts with two wins. She will start from post three for driver Gaetan Lamy and trainer Michel Allard.

Last week YS Tallia lost a super game effort against Yaris Bayama by just one-quarter of a length in 1:57. The prior week, the daughter of Western Ideal won the $50,000 consolation race for the James M. Lynch Memorial in a lifetime best 1:51.4 for Team Allard.

Hoping for the upset victory will be Herspeedfromheaven in post two for driver Mario Charron. Last week Herspeedfromheaven won her division of the series with a game closing effort in a lifetime best mile of 1:59.1.

Other possible contenders include First Kiss (post nine), Kinnderuntouchable (post eight) and Charleurs Melodie (post seven).

First race post time Sunday is 12:30 p.m. For entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R

(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)