D Gs De Vito has been made the 5-2 favourite in the Preferred Pace feature at Hippodrome on Sunday (May 7) and driver Jonathan Lachance says his horse is in “good shape” for the big race.

“De Vito is in good shape to begin the season,” explained Lachance. “I hope that he will have a season as good as last year. The stable team worked for this all winter.”

Last season at age six, D Gs De Vito (Sportswriter - D Gs Tinkerbell) tallied six wins and five second-place finishes in 21 starts.

D Gs De Vito starts from post seven in the ninth race feature for trainer Guylaine Fortin and owner-breeder Daniel Surprenant of Saint-Valentin, Quebec. On opening day last week, D Gs De Vito and Lachance were a game second-place finisher to Delicate Sound in the Preferred Pace.

Now D Gs De Vito takes on three return winners on Sunday.

Mickeymaksomespeed (post six) was an eight-time winner in 2022 for owner-trainer Michel Allard and he just qualified at 3R, going wire-to-wire in 1:59, faster than any race opening day last week. He will have the driving services of Jocelyn Gendron.

Arrhythmogenic (post five) put in a tremendous effort opening day, having to come first-over in her race, grinding it out and pulling away in the stretch to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:59.1. She will be driven by Daniel St. Pierre.

Then there is the newcomer from Ontario, Little Manny (post three), who stopped off at Rideau Carleton on his way here from Mohawk, and wired the field by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:55.1. The Yves Tessier trainee will be driven by Pascal Berube.

It is a nine-horse field so there will be plenty of action throughout the race. In fact, seven of the 10 races feature full nine-horse fields on Sunday.

How does Lachance feels about his chances with D Gs De Vito on Sunday.

“For Sunday, We are starting from post seven so even without the winner of the last week it won’t be easy,” said Lachance. “A race is still a race and the opposition is good.”

First race post time Sunday is at 12 noon. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca. 

To view the entries for Sunday's card of harness racing at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.

(Quebec Jockey Club)