The fourth and final preliminary round of the $250,000 Quebec-Bred Series for three-year-old pacers takes place Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R.
This is also the final race day at 3R as live racing takes a bit of a holiday for the Trois-Rivieres auto Grand Prix racing. The track and casino will still be open every day. Live racing will resume on Wednesday, August 12.
After this final preliminary round, the top eight point-earners in the series will be eligible to return to 3R on Sunday, September 6 for their respective $65,000 finals.
There is a great match up in the third race, first division of the series as Mach On The Beach takes on Sugarsam.
Sugarsam is the strong horse of the two return winners. Two weeks back in his last start, the son of Sportwriter was parked out first-over against pacesetter Mach On The Beach, but driver Denis St Pierre kept Sugarsam alive on the outside to win in 1:55. Sugarsam starts from post five.
Mach On The Beach came back last week in the series and regained winning form after being second to Sugarsam, winning in the third round of the series wire-to-wire in 1:58.
The fillies battle in the eighth race with a large field of 10 starters going one mile on the 3R half-mile oval.
All eyes will be on Voodoo Charm from the rail for driver Mario Charron. Last week the filly saw her three-race winning streak go down the tubes as she broke at the start of the race and ended up finishing fifth.
This week Voodoo Charm, sired by Ponder, starts from the rail and is the 5-2 morning line favourite.
Her main rival will be Wanda Bayama from post seven for trainer/driver Yves Filion. This Western Ideal filly has won her last two starts in the series, both on the front end.
This race will not be a walk in the park for anyone in the field as other hopeful contenders include HP Rubis Joyce (post three), No Panic (post four), return series winner Big Bertha (post eight) and Miss Bro (post nine), all having a shot in the race.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)