With a forecast of sunny skies and temperatures around 24°C / 76°F, the Hippodrome 3R track record of 1:50.3 will be in jeopardy Sunday in the $200,000 Prix d’Été for four-year-old pacers.

The record was first set in the first revival of the Prix d’Été in 2014 by Sunfire Blue Chip. It was then equaled in the 2015 Prix d’Été by All Bets Off.

There are eight starters in the tenth race feature and the early favourites are the entry from the Ron Burke Stable of Eddard Hanover (post one) and Filibuster Hanover (post three) could be the one to do it.

Eddard Hanover has 3R’s leading driver, Stephane Brosseau, in the bike. In his last start he won at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs in 1:51.1 with a :27.3 last quarter.

Filibuster Hanover gets the driving services of Canada’s leading reinsman, Louis-Philippe Roy. Filibuster Hanover was a game third place finisher in the Sam McKee Memorial that was won by Western Joe. He is the richest competitor in the field with lifetime earnings of $1,269,000.

Western Joe would have been the race favourite if not for drawing the far outside post eight. This son of Western Ideal sports nine wins on the year and will be driven by Doug McNair. Western Joe is seeking his third straight win as he won the Sam McKee Memorial and the prior week took a lifetime mark of 1:47.3 at the Meadowlands.

Completing the field are Miso Fast (Daniel Dube) post seven, Blood Line (Trevor Henry) post five, Beckhams Z Tam (Ricky Macomber) post two, Modern Reflection (Pascal Berube) post five and American Wiggle (Guy Gagnon) in post four.

Only driver Ricky Macomber will make his 3R debut on Sunday. Trevor Henry won the Prix d’Été last year with Western Fame.

Trainers Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter, have each won the Prix d’Été twice over the past four years. Burke with All Bets Off (2015) and Rockin Ron (2016). Takter won with Sunfire Blue Chip (2014) and Western Fame (2017).

Of the eight drivers in the race, five are from Quebec and seven are from Canada with Ricky Macomber the only driver from the U.S.

The only return winners in the field are Eddard Hanover and Western Joe.

It is the first time this season that Filibuster Hanover (Louis Philippe Roy) will be driven by someone other than Yannick Gingras.

Post time is 12:50 p.m. Sunday. To view entries for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.

(With files from the Quebec Jockey Club)