Marie-Claude Auger is currently a solid second-place in the driver standings at Hippodrome 3R and may add to her win total on Friday, July 26 as she is scheduled to drive the morning line favourites in both divisions of the Breeders Trophy Series.
The second of three preliminary rounds of the series for three-year-old trotters will be featured on Friday. The $65,000 finals are scheduled to take place on Super Sunday, Sept. 8.
Auger has 28 driving wins so far in this race meet. Perennial driving champion Pascal Berube is in first place with 35 wins.
The first division of the Breeders Trophy Series is the fifth race for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings with a purse of $10,000. Captain PV, a colt by Wheeling N Dealin out of Dolly P V, is the morning line favourite and will start from post two with Auger in the bike. The duo is on a four-race winning streak at 3R for trainer Serge Nadeau, who co-owns the colt with Ecuries Y Corriveau Inc.
Auger has been able to win with Captain PV either on or off the pace this year. That wasn't the case last year as Captain PV failed to hit the board in five starts.
“He was weak and immature last year,” said Nadeau. “This winter, he gained muscle and weight. As for Friday, he had the flu this week and was a little sick but still ate very well. This colt has no faults. He is nice to handle everywhere -- very calm and very hardworking.”
The track record for three-year-old trotting colts is 1:58.2 set by Lukes Pierre 21 years ago in 2003. With Captain PV already winning in 2:00, that record could fall by the wayside. (The three-year-old trotting gelding record is 1:56.1.)
“Captain PV is much more mature this year,” said Auger. “He is trotting very well. I believe he could trot a mile under two minutes this year.”
Captain PV will face competition from return winner Paradise Moni (post six), who scored his third win of the season last week with a 2:02 triumph for driver Pascal Berube and trainer Mario Grimard.
In the very next sixth race, a $10,000 division for the fillies, Auger will return with race favourite Sensi Amnesia, a Muscle Mass-Torches Angel filly that she not only drives, but also trains, bred and co-owns with Catheline Pelletier.
Last year's Quebec-Bred champion two-year-old is back to her winning ways. Sensi Amnesia scored in the opening round of the series two weeks ago with a seven-length romp in 1:59.3, a lifetime mark. She has two wins so far in his sophomore season.
“She’s actually on a good streak,” said Auger. “And she should perform well. She’s feeling good, she’s ready for the series and she is trotting well.”
The track record for sophomore trotting fillies is 1:58 set by Stella Alpha in 2022. Is that within range for Sensi Amnesia?
“I think 1:58 flat is quite fast,” noted Auger. “I’m not necessarily looking to break the track record, but we never know, anything is possible.”
Her competition includes Asrightasrain (post one) with driver/trainer David Pilon, MVPs Daughter (post three) for trainer/driver Jerome Lombart and HP Agathe (post four) for Berube and trainer Daniel Martin.
How does Auger feel to have the race favourites in both stakes races on Friday?
“It’s fun to have the race favourites,” added Auger. “The chances are better, but it creates more pressure.”
First race post time on Friday is 4 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club; photo of Sensi Amnesia winning at Hippodrome 3R)