This Friday, June 28, nine three-year-old Quebec-bred trotters will be put to the test in the $7,000 fifth race at Hippodrome 3R. It will be an early test of their ability as the Breeders Trophy Series for the three-year-olds is right around the corner.

One of the standouts in the field is Hercules from post eight as the Lookslikeachpndale-Noblesse gelding is on a three-race winning streak for former 3R leading trainer Maxime Velaye.

The homebred chestnut trotter, owned and bred by Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, Que., never raced at age two, but seems to be making up for lost time this season.

“He was very big and immature for a two-year-old,” said Velaye. “He is still very big and now sometimes immature.”

When was it that Hercules found his winning strides?

“I would say he changed more during the spring,” explained Velaye. “Because we got into a discussion in the beginning of March and I was not too confident that he could not make a decent racehorse. There was a lot of hit and miss with his equipment and his training regime.

“Then in the beginning of April was the turning point,” Velaye laughed. “And he started to improve. I always made the joke in the barn that it was because he looked straight at the solar eclipse we got in April and that’s the reason why he became much better.”

Competing recently at Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, Hercules found his groove and comes into the race at 3R on Friday off three straight wins, the fastest his last start where he wired the field with ease, winning by five open lengths in a lifetime best 1:59.3.

He will have top reinsman Stephane Brosseau in the sulky on Friday. Brosseau has driven the youngster throughout his short career.

“I’m not very happy with post eight on Friday,” said Velaye. “He showed in his last that he can leave at Rideau and did it like a professional, but he has yet to have to start from post eight [at 3R].

“He has a nice gait,” added Velaye. “And so far, he looks versatile in the races. Stephane Brosseau does an amazing job with him. He teaches him the right way of doing things.”

The competitive field on Friday has three fillies in the race with six colts. The 5-2 morning favourite is Captain PV from post seven for driver Marie-Claude Auger. Trained and co-owned by Serge Nadeau, the Wheeling N Dealin-Dolly P V colt is also a return winner in the field. Last week, he led from start to finish at 3R for his maiden victory, taking a 2:00 mark.

Other top contenders include Paradise Moni (post four), Cleveland U Bet (post two) and JD Beauty (post three).

There is also a $5,000 Preferred Trot on Friday in the fourth race where return winner Cleveland Moneyka (post two) is coming off a 2:00 triumph last week and will be driven by Pascal Berube. Also in the field is morning line favourite Orlys Pride (post 3) and the entry of El Bleu (post one) and Ciel Bleu (post five).

First race post time for the twilight card is 4 p.m. For free race programs, visit hippodrome3R.ca.

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

(Quebec Jockey Club)