The track maintenance crew at the Hippodrome 3R had the half mile racing oval in prime shape for opening day of the 2021 harness racing season.

Mickeymaksomespeed and driver Richard 'The Black Cat' Simard took full advantage of the fast track, sizzling to the lead and never looking back in the Preferred Pace feature.

Simard left with Mickeymaksomespeed from post five and had a three-length lead on the field by the opening quarter in :27.2, then led to the half mile in :56.4. Then they opened up at the three-quarters in 1:26 and were leading by six lengths at the top of the stretch.

Going to the wire, Mickeymaksomespeed and Simard were on cruise control, crossing the wire five and one-half lengths in front of the pocket-sitting Big Petes Style (Marie Claude Auger) with Maracasso (Stephane Gendron) third. Mickeymaksomespeed covered the one-mile race in a blazing 1:54.2.

Now age four, Mickeymaksomespeed is a son of Mickey Hanover and is trained, owned and bred by Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit and paid $5.10 to win. It was his first start of the 2021 season.

In the fifth Preferred-Handicap Trot, Keepall (Pascal Berube) went right out to the early lead with track record holder Wildwild Men (Guy Gagnon) leaving from post eight and getting a two-hole tuck as they went by the opening quarter mile in :28.1.

Going to the half mile marker, Severus Hanover, an 11-1 long shot, came first-over for driver Stephane Brosseau and started after the race leader past the half in :59.

At the three-quarters in 1:29, Severus Hanover kept the pressure on, wearing down Keepall and in the stretch, Severus Hanover dug in and cruised to a one and one-half length triumph in 1:59.2. Wildwild Men closed well to be second with Keepall third.

It was the first win in three starts this year for Severus Hanover, a 10-year-old gelding by Explosive Matter, who is trained and owned by Yannick Martel of L’Assomption. He paid $25.00 to win.

Kinnder High Class (Samuel Fillion), the race favourite, was never in the hunt, broke stride in the backstretch and pulled up, not finishing the race. Trainer Denitza Petrova later said that the mare broke her trotting hopple and that she was OK physically.

Both Arrhythmogenic (Daniel St Pierre) and Big Diamond (Stephane Gendron) fought tooth and nail for control of the lead from the start of the Preferred-Handicap Pace.

Arrhythmogenic had the early lead, Big Diamond took over at the quarter in :28. Then by the half in :57.1, Arrhythmogenic came after the lead again but dropped back in the pocket and then came out again at the three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Now entering the hunt was Topsill Beach and driver David Pilon, who tipped three-wide at the three-quarters and was parked that way around the final turn before drawing off to win by three lengths in 1:56.3. Big Diamond was second with Arrhythmogenic third.

For the five-year-old mare by Shadow Play, it was her second win in five starts for H3R four-time defending champion trainer Francis Richard, whose stable owns the mare. She paid $7.30 to win.

Both Pascal Berube and Stephane Brosseau had driving triples and Yannick Martel a training double on the card. Racing will resume at H3R next Sunday, May 16 with first race post time at 12:30 pm.

(Quebec Jockey Club)