The Hippodrome 3R will be hosting a driver's tournament on Sunday, October 12 and it will be quite an event.
Special invitations have been accepted by Grand Circuit star and recent Prix D'Ete winner Yannick Gingras, and top Ontario driver Jody Jamieson.
The other six spots in the tournament will go to the six leading drivers this year at 3R after this Sunday's 10-race program. The 3R representatives in the tournament appear to be pretty well set as Marie Claude Auger has a prior engagement and cannot take part in the tournament.
Leading drivers at Hippodrome 3R as of Oct. 4:
Drivers - Sts - 1st - 2nd - 3rd - $Won - Win% - UDRS
Denis St Pierre - 186 - 59 - 28 - 29 - $243,733 - 31.7 - .453
Stephane Brosseau - 226 - 33 - 37 - 31 - $216,574 - 14.6 - .283
Mario Charron - 227 - 28 - 28 - 25 - 155,044 - 12.3 - .229
Marie Claude Auger - 204 - 24 - 32 - 34 - 151,675 - 11.8 - .260
Sylvain Lacaille - 143 - 24 - 21 - 15 - $132,555 - 16.8 - .284
Stephane Gendron - 147 - 23 - 29 12 - $183,740 - 15.6 - .293
Pascal Berube - 188 - 21 - 20 - 11 - $87,146 - 11.2 - .190
The winner of the tournament will be determined by a points system based on 50-25-12-8-5 in each race to the first five finishers. The purse of the tournament is $3,000 and will be divided among the top five drivers 50%-25%-12%-8%-5%.
Sunday's race program has nine trotters going to post in the seventh race feature. Despite making a break in his last start and finishing ninth, the 5-2 morning line favourite is Bel Gazou from post four for driver, trainer and owner Martin Gingras. Two starts back the 10-year-old gelded son of Armbro Nash, who happens to be the oldest starter in the field, was a winner at 3R with a 10 length romp in 1:58.2.
Also in the field is Miss Jackpot from post five for driver Serge Quellet. Miss Jackpot has won her last two starts at 3R. Another return winner in the field is Aworthy Bi from post three for driver Francis Picard. Aworthy Bi won his last start by four lengths at 3R.
Post time Sunday is 1 p.m.
(With files from QJC)