Hippodrome 3R hosted the first leg of the 2026 Series Quebecoises for aged trotters on Thursday, June 4, starring two-time Quebec champion Royalty Beer, 2025 series winner Paradise Moni, and last year’s Harvest Series winner Chic Choc Rose.

Trainer Kevin Maguire and owners Ecuries Maguire Inc. of Sainte-Marie, Que. and Jean-Francois Maguire of Carlisle, Ont. swept the $6,000 divisions for males with Royalty Beer and Paradise Moni.

Royalty Beer delivered a blowout performance in the faster division as the gelding returned to his home province for another crack at the Quebec Series. He quickly asserted his authority as he powered to the lead off the gate and held sway through :29.2, 1:00.2 and 1:30 fractions. Pascal Berube asked him to go as the first-over Timonier (Jocelyn Gendron) loomed at three-quarters, and Royalty Beer darted away to win by four lengths in 1:59.1. Last Try (Francis Picard) took second off a pocket trip, with Timonier third.

Royalty Beer, winner of the 2021 Coupe de l’Avenir and 2022 Trophee des Eleveurs, has been a force in the Preferred ranks on Ontario’s half-mile circuit this year and is seven-for-17 in 2026. The son of Royalty For Life-Beer Maggs has won 41 times and earned $492,237 in 124 career starts. He returned $2.10 at the mutuels.

Paradise Moni made a long climb to the lead and fended off a stout stretch challenge to win the first division. Denis St. Pierre placed the gelding fourth from post two, then started him on an uncovered march heading to the quarter in :29.4. Paradise Moni touched down on top past the half in :58.3 and led to three-quarters in 1:28.3 before Kenogami Coco (Marie-Claude Auger) popped the pocket nearing the homeward turn. They raced head-to-head throughout the final quarter, and Paradise Moni emerged a head in front in 2:00. Frido Pv (Sylvain Lacaille) was third.

The win was the second of the year in 10 outings for Paradise Moni, who swept the series last season. The five-year-old travelled from Ontario for Thursday’s start and now has raced at five tracks across three jurisdictions this year. The son of International Moni-Jessies Song improved to 18-for-55 for his career and built his bankroll to $131,488. He paid $2.30 to win.

Chic Choc Rose came from last in a five-horse field to win the lone $6,000 mare trot division. Away fifth behind a gapped-out Sant Ambroggio (William Roy) past a :29.4 quarter, the Carl Duguay trainee started up nearing the half in 1:00.3 and caught the helmet of the first-up Stella Alpha (Stephane Brosseau), riding that cover to three-quarters in 1:30.4. Berube unleashed her three-wide on the final turn, and the mare trotted home in :29.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over pacesetter Mvps Daughter (Francis Picard) in 2:00.4. Greenleaf (Steven Gagnon) finished third.

Chic Choc Rose took her third win this season in 17 starts. The four-year-old daughter of Royalty For Life-Torches Angel, owned by Investissement KFB of Sorel-Tracy, Que. and Duguay of Trois-Rivieres, Que., is now 16-for-45 lifetime with $168,712 in earnings. Her win price was $4.60.

The Series Quebecoises (Quebec Series) consists of three preliminary legs and a final, which is set for July 5.

To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Hippodrome 3R.

(Standardbred Canada)