The Hippodrome 3R kicks off night racing at the half mile oval Tuesday and featured on the program will be three opening round divisions of the $120,000 Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old trotting horses and mares. Post time is 7:00 p.m.

“We have had a good start to the beginning of our season despite some rainy days,” said 3R general manager Vincent Trudel. “The forecast is good for Tuesday evening, we have a strong ten-race program and fans can look forward to an improved lighting system for better viewing both live and on simulcasting.”

Perhaps the best match-up on the program is not even a wagering event. Between the fifth and sixth races on the card will be a non-wagering division of the Quebec-Bred Series with just three horses entered. But considering two of the three trotters entered are series champions and track record holders, the match-up will be of great interest.

Featured is the 2016 debut of Maximuscle, who starts from post three for driver Mario Charron. The son of Angus Hall is seeking to become the first four-time Quebec-Bred Series champion, having won that title at age two, three and four for the combo of trainer Maxime Velaye and Charron.

Bred and owned by Ecurie Provoquante of Mirabel, QC, Maximuscle recently qualified at Rideau Carlton in 2:00.1 and last year took his lifetime mark of 1:54.2.

Starting on the rail is track record holder, Seeyou Men for driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Isabelle Darveau. This gelded son of Muscle Mass took 3R by storm last year, sweeping the Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-olds and setting a track record in the final with his 1:58.4 lifetime mark.

Seeyou Men looks primed for his 2016 3R debut, was raced time in his last start at Flamboro Downs in 1:57.4 and two starts back won at Flamboro in 1:59.1. Rounding out the three-horse field is Promesses Imperial for driver Jerome Lombart.

The mares do battle in two divisions, carded as the third and sixth races and featured are two 3R track record holders and series champions in Meganou and Viva Bayama.

Meganou starts from post six for driver Jocelyn Gendron. Now age four, the daughter of Kadabra won the Quebec-Bred Series Championship at age two and three.

After refusing to go behind the starting gate in her pari-mutuel debut at 3R, trainer Daniel Martin seems to have the kinks worked out as Meganou recently won her qualifying race at 3R in 2:01.2, by a half-length over rival Viva Bayama.

Until her qualifier last week, Viva Bayama had been off to a terrible beginning in 2016, going 0 for 7 so far this season. She will start from post three for trainer/driver Carl Duguay.

A four-year-old mare by Muscle Mass, Viva Bayama also won the Quebec-Bred Series at age 2 and 3 and last year set the track record for sophomore trotting fillies at 3R in 1:59.2.

The sixth race second division features SOS Harddrive from post five for driver Pascale Berube. This four-year-old daughter of Taurus Dream is off to a strong start in 2016 for trainer Isabelle Binet with two wins in three starts at 3R, the fastest in 1:59.4.

After four weeks of preliminary competition in the series, the top eight point earners return on Sunday, June 26 for their respective $30,000 finals.

After the first four weeks of the race meet, the Hippodrome 3R is doing very well both on-track and with simulcasting against prior year. Total handle is up 68.71%, on-track handle is up 33.71% and simulcasting is up an astonishing 220.46% against 2015.

For a free race program and free live video feed for Tuesday’s race card, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

(QJC)