The connections of 27 four-year-old pacers have made the final sustaining payment to the fifth renewal of the Prix D'Ete, which will be contested for a $200,000 purse at the Hippodrome 3R in Quebec on Sunday, August 19.

Headlining the list of nominees is the unbeaten Filibuster Hanover, who is now four-for-four in 2018 for the Ron Burke Stable. Burke and company will be seeking their third Prix D'Ete victory in 2018.

Of the top ten money-winning three-year-old colts and geldings from 2017 that are returning to race in 2018, eight of the ten are nominated to the Prix D’Ete, including the first six money winners. The final eight that will race for the $200,000 purse will be the top money earners in 2018 at time of entry.

The Prix D'Ete was the most prestigious race in all of Canada from 1966 through 1992. World champions Bret Hanover, Albatross, Niatross, Hot Hitter, Cam Fella, On The Road Again, Ralph Hanover, Matts Scooter and a host of other top pacers have won the Prix D'Ete.

In the past four editions of the Prix D'Ete at H3R, the all-age track record was set and then tied, as both Sunfire Blue Chip (2014) and All Bets Off (2015) both won in 1:50.3. Then, in 2016, US Harness Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, came to ‘3R’ for the Prix D'Ete, and after a dramatic neck-and-neck battle through the final half mile of the race, was second in an upset by Rockin Ron (1:52) over a ‘sloppy’ track. Rockin Ron made it two straight Prix D’Ete victories for the Ron Burke Stable.

Last year’s Prix D’Ete saw the Jimmy Takter Stable win for the second time (Sunfire Blue Chip was the first), with Western Fame, as driver Trevor Henry wired the field in 1:53.2.

"We are very pleased with the quality of the horses that have nominated to this year's Prix D'Ete," said Claude Levesque, president of the Quebec Jockey Club. "The revival of this Grand Circuit event has developed to the great race it was before."

This year, Filibuster Hanover, a gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere, has been on fire. In his last start, the $150,000 Commodore Barry, he won in a lifetime mark of 1:48.3. That victory sent Filibuster Hanover over the one-million-dollar mark in career earnings at $1,016,000.

Last year he won the Little Brown Jug, the Bluegrass Stakes and the Pegasus Pace while racing against the best three-year-olds in the US all season long.

Miso Fast got back to his winning way for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. last week at Woodbine Mohawk Park, as he won a division of the Graduate Pace in 1:50.2. He is a son of Roll With Joe, a career winner of $685,000, and took his record last year in 1:49.2.

Western Joe got off to a strong start early this season and has already notched seven wins for trainer Christopher Choate. The son of Western Ideal has earned $110,000 this year with a record of 1:49.3 taken last season.

Other contenders that are eligible include Art Scene, Beckhams Z Tam, Blood Line, Eddard Hanover, Funknwaffles and Photobomber Hanover.

Quebec-owned nominees include Quebec-bred Sire Stakes champion Wildriverbumblebee, plus Art Scene, Histoire Enchantee, American Wiggle and Tymal Peacemaker.

"I want to invite everyone to come to Trois-Rivieres the weekend of August 19," Levesque added, "as we want everyone to come out and enjoy our great racing and Quebecoise hospitality."

For more information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.

2018 Prix D'Ete Nominees

AMERICAN WIGGLE
ART SCENE

BAGS TO RICHES
BEACH BOOGIE
BECKHAMS Z TAM
BEYOND DELIGHT
BLOOD LINE

CALVIN K
CLASSIC PRO

DREAMFAIR B J

EDDARD HANOVER

FILIBUSTER HANOVER
FUNKNWAFFLES

HISTOIRE ENCHANTEE
HURRICANE BEACH

MISO FAST
MODERN REFLECTION

NORMANDY BEACH

ODDS ON DELRAY

PHOTOBOMBR HANOVER

ROCK N TONY

STEALTH BOMBER
SUMMER SIDE

TYMAL PEACEMAKER

WESTERN HILL
WESTERN JOE
WILDRIVERBUMBLEBEE

(Quebec Jockey Club)