The two-year-olds, or “babies” as referred to throughout the harness racing industry, make their debut before the racing fans at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, plus it is National Caretaker Appreciation Day in Canada.
There are four opening round divisions of the Future Stars Series for colt and filly pacers. For each of the three preliminary rounds of the competition, the purse is $7,500 and then on Sunday, September 9, the top eight point earners will race for $55,000 in the finale.
The third race is the first division for the colts. Featured will be D Gs De Vito for owner/breeder Daniel Surprenant of Saint-Valentin. This son of Sportswriter made his pari-mutuel debut last week at 3R and was very impressive with his 2:01.1 victory, the last quarter in :29.2 for driver Jonathan Lachance. That tandem starts from post two.
The second colt division is the sixth race where YS Sunshine, starting from the rail for driver Stephane Gendron, looks very tough to beat. This colt by Sunshine Beach raced last week at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots and was second, race-timed in 1:55.2. His dam, Bolero Tallia, was a 1:51 winner for owner/breeder Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation.
The fillies get underway in the fifth race where Gina Bragagnolo and Pierre Leclerc of Louisville have homebred Hurryupatthebeach, already undefeated in two starts, drawing the rail for driver Pascal Berube. This daughter of Up The Credit went wire-to-wire last week at 3R for Berube with a 2:01.4 triumph and plenty to spare. She will face competition from Cooking The Speed (post six), who ships in from the U.S. after finishing third, race-timed in 1:56.4 at Pocono Downs for owner/breeder Rene Allard and his father, Michel Allard.
The eighth race is the second filly division of the Future Stars Series and it is a well-matched field of eight. Early favourites are Majelyca from post one, Broncos Sena in post two and Flower Sena in post seven. This filly already is undefeated in two starts on the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit for Serge Nadeau of Scott, who is not only the trainer, but also the owner and breeder.
National Caretaker Appreciation Day
This year, Standardbred Canada set up a day to highlight the all too often obscure and unappreciated work of caretakers/grooms, an initiative to be commended for. For the occasion, each racetrack was asked to highlight some of these distinguished employees. At 3R, the designated grooms are Carolann Landry, Sabrina Lord-Bédard and Roxanne Viau.
Carolann Landry is a 28-year-old woman employed by Daniel Martin, a passion that comes from her father. She also says that she has learned a lot from André Duval. Her greatest joy, of course, is to win with one of her favourites that she cares for throughout the week.
Sabrina Lord-Bédard is a 13-year-old girl, the daughter of Nancy Lord and granddaughter of Jean Lord. She is also passionate about horses and is proud to describe the successes they have on the track.
Roxanne Viau, Michel Audet's wife, has long been associated with the world of harness racing. For years, she has cared for her husband's horses with patience and know-how. Recently, thanks to the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit, she even made her debut in the sulky with successes that do not go unnoticed. She is a big fan of horses and she admires people who, like Michel, treat them well.
To these three grooms, the management and staff at both the Quebec Jockey Club and Hippodrome 3R offer their most sincere congratulations, as well as to all those who do the same in the stables of Quebec and the 3R paddock. One day a year to honour them is not too much.
First race post time on Sunday is 12:50 pm. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)