Frido PV has been dominating the trotting ranks at Hippodrome 3R since the race meet first opened and the six-year-old son of Muscle Mass goes for his fourth straight win on Friday, June 30 in the Quebec-Bred Series.

He is the 5-2 favourite in the ninth race feature, the last preliminary round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older trotters. After Friday, the top eight point-earners in the series will return for a $30,000 final on Sunday, July 9.

Frido PV will start from post four in the $6,500 race for driver Jonathan Lachance. They have teamed up this season to win five of Frido PV's six starts. The trotter is the winningest horse at 3R this season and is trained by Yves St Jacques for owner/breeder Marcel Brouillard.

It’s a bulky 10-horse field set for Friday's battle and the entry from trainer Maxime Velaye's stable of Capteur De Reve (post five) and Ciel Bleu (post eight) is the second choice at 3-1.

Capteur De Reve (pictured above) is a four-time Quebec Champion, going for an unpresented five titles on July 9 in the final. But regular reinsman Stephane Brosseau is driving Ciel Bleu, so who is getting the drive on Capteur De Reve?  It’s his trainer, Maxime Velaye.

“I will try very hard, but [Capteur De Reve] doesn’t have the best driver to win with Friday,” laughed Velaye. 

“For sure Ciel Bleu with post eight, it is gonna be a difficult task to win from, but I’m very confident that Stephane Brosseau will give him the best trip he can have.

“As for Capteur De Reve, he will not be a problem as he can basically race well from on or off the pace. I am just going to see what is going on behind the gate and adjust my strategy.

“Both of my horses need to be 100 per cent,” added Velaye. “Because Frido PV, he is really strong right now. So, we probably need a little luck too Friday. We will need some luck in the final too, but I am confident that either Capteur De Reve or Ciel Bleu will win the final.”

Other contenders include Only For Justice from post nine for driver Robert Shepherd and previous preliminary round winner Orlys Pride from post six for driver Jocelyn Gendron.

Despite winning his last preliminary division, Seeyou Men is missing from the competition as he was seriously injured in that race.

"[Trainer/driver] Guy [Gagnon] realized half a mile that something was wrong. And he was right," said Catheline Pelletier, co-owner of the 11-year-old past Quebec Champion with breeder Chantal Gravel. "In the paddock, after the race, the veterinarian passed x-rays that revealed a fracture of one of the phalanges of the foot.

“This is a very serious injury that will require three months of immobilization with a cast,” added Pelletier. “For him, the season may be over. Who knows, maybe even his career. For us, this is truly catastrophic news. A horse we love, who has given us the best of himself all these years. What does the future hold? It is very early to say.”

Post time for Friday’s 10-race twilight card is 4 p.m.

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

(With files from Quebec Jockey Club; Photo of Capteur De Reve #9 winning earlier this year)