The trotters will be in the spotlight at Hippodrome 3R on Friday afternoon (July 28) with more than half of the 12 races on the program devoted to the high-stepping gait.
Five of the trotting events are stakes races for two and three-year-olds. The two-year-olds were rained out of their opening round of the Future Stars Series last Friday and the two divisions were moved to this Friday. This is the first time that most of the “babies” will be competing in a pari-mutuel event.
The first set of two-year-olds on the card are the trotting fillies in the $10,000 fourth race. Among the six contenders, the 5-2 morning line favourite is Kenogami Queen (Wheeling N Dealin-Kenogami Darling) from post four for driver Stephane Brosseau and trainer Jean-Francois Reid. She was a strong third-place finisher in her July 14 career debut at 3R.
Nine two-year-old trotting colts and gelding are featured in the $10,000 11th race. The early favourite is the entry of Rocket Men (Muscle Mass-Secret Missy) from post seven with Brosseau in the bike and Wild Dream Men (Kadabra-Cersei Hanover) from post nine for driver/trainer Guy Gagnon.
The three-year-olds will get underway in the $10,000 third race, competing in the second round of the Breeders Trophy Series for the trotting fillies, with Kenogami Courage looking to repeat for Reid. The Lookslikeachpndale-Profound Wisdom filly will start from post eight with Brosseau back in the bike. A close runner-up to Kenogami Courage in the first leg, Dont Treat Me Bad gets the slight nod as the 5-2 morning line choice with Jocelyn Gendron set to drive the Resolve-Miss Bville filly from post four for trainer Herve Kirouac.
The three-year-old trotting colts are split into two $7,500 second leg divisions of the Breeders Trophy Series, starting in the seventh race where BBC Sportsboy is the 5-2 top choice after winning his opening round division of the series for driver/trainer Marc Belanger. The Wheeling N Dealin-El Miss Cindy gelding has drawn post four in the field of a half-dozen.
The ninth race is the second sophomore trotting colt division and features Kinnder Motown, who has won four of his six starts already this season, including an opening leg division, for the tandem of driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Isabelle Darveau. The Muscle Mass-Witch Way gelding will start outside of four foes as the 8-5 morning line favourite.
Post time for the Friday twilight race card is 4 p.m. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)