Having two qualifier sessions in the books, racing is ready to return to the province of Quebec as Hippodrome 3R will host its first card of 2021 on Friday (May 7).

The Friday card pulled 86 horses out of the entry box for 10 races beginning at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). It features four preferred events topped by the $6,000 Preferred 1, carded as Race 7, where 5-2 morning line favourite Big Petes Style will start from the pylon post against seven other foes. Marie Claude Auger drives the favourite for trainer Gina Bragagnolo.

Before the headline event are a pair of $5,500 Preferred 1 & 2 events, one on the trot and one for pacing mares. In the trot (Race 5), Kinnder High Class—the 2020 Trotting Filly of the Year at H3R—starts from post 6 as the 5-2 morning line choice with Samuel Fillion at the reins for trainer Denitza Petrova. Tuggingoncredit tops the mare pace in Race 6 as the 5-2 choice on the morning line, but will have to overcome post 8 for trainer-driver Guy Gagnon.

Co-featured to the above Preferreds is a $4,000 Preferred 3 Pace, carded as Race 8. Trainer Isabelle Darveau sends 5-2 favourite Blue Moose from post 6 with Marie Claude Auger in the bike.

Leading the driver colony at H3R is Pascal Berube, who took the title as meet's leading driver during the 2020 season.

"It's always fun to be successful on the track," Berube said to the Quebec Jockey Club. "And it's my first goal when I'm on the sulky. So, as far as winning the driver’s title again, if I'm first in the standings it's great, but otherwise I just want to live up to myself and do my best.

"I currently have 6 horses in the stable," Berube also said. "And three of them are new horses. I really hope they will live up to our expectations as these are several new owners and I would like for them to enjoy their first experience as owners."

Meanwhile, Francis Richard returns to H3R in pursuit of his fifth training title.

"We are ready of course for the new race season at H3R," Richard said. "I really am looking forward to seeing my trotter that I co-own, Fashion Frenzie. Him, along with a Bettors Delight colt I co-own named Twin B Powerball, are under the good care of trainer Richard Moreau."

Opening day at H3R was originally slated for Sunday (May 2), however the Quebec government did not then approve for racing to be conducted due to the state of the coronavirus pandemic. H3R received the green light to race on April 30. No spectators will be allowed on track for the Friday card, and H3R will enforce the same Covid protocols in place from last season on all horsepeople and employees on track.

After Friday’s card, H3R will return to its regular schedule of Sunday racing beginning on May 16 with a 1:00 p.m. (EDT) first-race post time. Friday racing will return to H3R on June 11 with first-race post time scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (EDT). H3R will operate on a Friday, Sunday schedule through its 40-day season concluding on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Program Pages are available for the Friday card, courtesy of TrackIT, at this link.

To view Friday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.