There are 18 four-year-old pacers that have remained eligible to the $200,000 Prix d’Ete on Aug. 18 at Hippodrome 3R, and one of them, the local favourite Light The Torch, headlines 3R's Preferred Pace on Sunday, June 16.
Trained and co-owned by Marc-Andre Simoneau with Jean Fontaine, Light The Torch has been ultra-consistent this season, finishing on the board in all 10 of his starts with four victories, the fastest a lifetime best 1:53.2 mile two starts back at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Starting from post five in the ninth race feature, Light The Torch will have his regular pilot, Pascal Berube, in the sulky.
"He's a big horse, no doubt,” said trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau. “Sixty-two inches of [hopples] to prove it. Since his acquisition, we haven't changed much. The most important, the most necessary care, is his feet. No good feet, no big effort. He had to be made comfortable, the hoof had to be modified among other things to avoid discomfort.
“Above all,” added Simoneau. “We had to make him happy to race, happy with his lot. A horse that is in a good mood and happy is able to make better efforts.”
Simoneau was very pleased to have Light The Torch racing on Sunday at 3R.
"I was very happy that he was accepted by the race secretary to race. It will be an opportunity for us to see how he behaves over the half- mile. When we acquired him, he raced in Trois-Rivières and did well [two wins, one second]. But in those days, the miles were covered around 1:57. It's different now, and I'm expecting a mile a lot faster [on Sunday].”
It may or may not be a “walk in the park” for Light The Torch as he faces the current “Queen of 3R” Kiss Me Bad from post three for owner-driver Steven Gagnon. One of two mares in the field, Kiss Me Bad and Gagnon have been razor-sharp, winning the Preferred Pace the last two weeks, the fastest a 1:56.2 mile against male rivals.
There are two new faces in the Preferred with Acapulco Sunburn (post two), a new acquisition of Jocelyn Brassard with a record of 1.51.1 taken last year, and Savoir Duharas (post six), an acquisition of Jean Laroche, also by way of claim at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The amateur driver’s series continues at 3R with two divisions on Sunday’s program, Races 5 and 8 on the schedule. In the fifth, the morning line favourite Lookin Ata Winner is entrusted to veteran René Quessy in post three. He will have to pay attention to Pey Bug and Louis Desrochers who, for once, will start from the inside.
In the eighth race, Marc Lemay's Odds On Carmel was named the favourite, and for good reason. The horse raced in the $750 class recently and didn't look bad. Lemay will undoubtedly want to shine. Yannick Marquis and his Dads Princess are at 3-1, despite post seven.
First race post time on Sunday is 12 noon. For entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)