Both opening rounds winners, Atomic Million AM and Chaleurs Fantasy, will have their work cut for them in order to repeat in Sunday’s second round of the Quebec-Bred Series at the Hippodrome 3R.
The series is for four and five-year-olds pacers with four preliminary rounds culminating with $30,000 finals on Sunday, June 26.
Last week, Atomic Million AM took the horse and gelding division with a 1:55 triumph while Chaleurs Fantasy was impressive in her 1:57.3 victory.
The mares go first in the sixth race where 2014 series champion Chaleurs Fantasy and trainer/driver Carl Duguay start from post six. Last week, the five-year-old mare by Omar Khayam wired the field and also held off race favourite Wanda Bayama in her first-over bid, winning by three-quarters of a length.
Wanda Bayama is back and starts from post seven for Hall of Fame trainer/driver Yves Filion. Also in the lineup is the return of last year’s series champion Voodoo Charm.
Now age four, Voodoo Charm starts from post three for trainer Maxime Velaye and driver Mario Charron. The daughter of Ponder has not fared well this year, making a break and falling in her second qualifying race at Rideau Carlton Raceway on May 11. Last week, she put in a decent effort in qualifying at 3R and should be a contender along with Hawaiian Drummond (post one).
The horses and geldings will battle in race nine and two-time series champion Atomic Million AM has post five for trainer Alain Martin and driver Sylvain Lacaille. He is the 5-2 morning line favourite after holding off C L Art Magic and driver/trainer Yves Filion by a half-length last week. C L Art Magic drew the far outside post eight on Sunday.
Second choice in the race is last year’s three-year-old series champion Sugarsam. He will leave from post two for driver Denis St-Pierre and trainer Yves Tessier. Despite being 0-for-8 this season on the WEG circuit, Sugarsam has been racing in 1:51 and 1:52 his last few starts and should fare well from his inside post and return to 3R.
Two other newcomers to the field are D Gs Justlikethat (post one) for driver Jonathan Lachance and Electric Western (post four) for driver Richard Simard. Another invader from Ontario, D Gs Justlikethat won at Flamboro Down’s half-mile oval already this season in 1:56.3. Electric Western is winless in seven starts, but also shows 1:51 speed at Mohawk Racetrack.
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)