The class of the field and three-time Quebec Series Champion, Atomic Million AM, heads one of the four opening round divisions of the Quebec-Bred Series at Hippodrome 3R Sunday afternoon (June 16).

A big change for the series this year is that the series is now open to pacers and trotters ages four and older. Prior to that the series was only open to four and five-year-olds. After three preliminary rounds, the top eight point earners will race in $30,000 finals on Sunday, July 14.

Atomic Million AM drew the rail in the second race, the first of two divisions for older horses. With three championships already under his belt, the eight-year-old gelding by Million Dollar Cam is the odds-on favourite to sweep the series and become perhaps the first pacer ever to win four championships.

Bred, owned and trained by Alain Martin of Gatineau, Atomic Million AM is the class of the field, having lifetime earnings of $292,405 and a lifetime record of 1:50.3.

He gave notice in his last start that he is ready to take on all comers as he wired the field at 3R in 1:56.4 on an off-track (two seconds). He will be driven by Guy Gagnon on Sunday.

The field also features Sports Authority from post three. This gelded son of Sportswriter is coming off a 1:54 second-place finish at Tioga Downs for trainer Marc Major and is now in the barn of Stephane Pouliot and will be driven by Melanie Plourde.

Other contenders include former Quebec Series champions, HP Patriote (post two) and Stock (post five), with DJ Power (post four) and SOS Shanghaiavprince (post six) to round out the field.

The fifth race is the second division for older horses and featured is $501,000 career winner McKinney, who is also a former Quebec-Bred Champion. He starts from post three for driver Francis Picard.

Now trained by Francis Richard, McKinney ships back to Quebec from Ontario, where he is off to another great season, having already won at Mohawk in 1:52.

He will face Rideau Carleton invaders, Beach Runner A M (post four) and Majo Lou Beka (post six), along with Bali (post one), Kinnder Jackson (post two) and Rose Run Slider (post five).

The four-year-old and up mares divisions start in the third race where former champions Charleurs Fantasy (post three) meets up with Lit De Rose (post six).

The race favourite at 5/2 is Skyfall Sena (post five), also owned and trained by Alain Martin and shows a 1:56.2 score last month at Kawartha Downs.

The eighth race is the second mares' division and is headed by YS Tallia (post 5) for driver Stephane Gendron. She is a five-year-old mare by Western Ideal with more than $217,000 in lifetime earnings. She is shipping back to Canada from the U.S. and is trained by Michel Allard for breeder/owner Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation.

Other contenders include Lune Bleu (post two) and Butterfly BG (post one).

For a free race program for Sunday’s ten-race card, visit quebecjockeyclub.com. To view the entries for Sunday's card of harness racing at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.

(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)