Trotting track record co-holder Pablo Angus is just getting warmed up at Hippodrome 3R after a long layoff.
The gelded son of Fortuna Winner is the class of the third race trotting field on Sunday as the 13-year-old has career earnings over $808,000. He set the track record for older trotting horses in 2008 at 3R in 1:56 and then saw it tied by Michelangelo in 2014. Pablo Angus was also voted the 2009 Horse of the Year at Saratoga Raceway. The 5-2 morning line favourite will start from the rail with driver Mario Charron in the sulky for trainer Eric Gnocchini and owner Mario Bourgea.
Trotting mare Beer Maggs was game at the close of the season last year. She won two of her last four starts before her layoff, but is saddled with starting from the outside in post seven for trainer/driver Kevin Maguire.
Rounding out the field are R Rkadabra, Excel P V, last week's winner Miss Jackpot, Close The Light and Le Senateur A L.
The horse to watch in the ninth race pace is also the morning line favourite, Onyx V A, from post three. He went on a tear last week at the Hippodrome 3R, zooming to the lead after the half-mile marker for Charron and then cruising to a four and one-quarter length triumph in 1:56.1. Onyx V A is trained by Andre Larocque.
Second choice in the field is Cliff Drummond at 3-1. He is starting from post nine in the second tier for driver Gaetan Lamy. Once they find clearance, they will be shooting to the lead as that is where Cliff Drummond seems to race best. In his last start last week at 3R, the Pierre Ouellette Jr. trainee wired the field in 1:58.2.
Other starters include Who Dey, Royal Becquet, D Gs Machbeach, Half A Billion, Clever Thing and Edmund Hanover.
First race post time is 1:30 p.m.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)