“There is no way that I am not sending a horse to the Hippodrome 3R and try and win the Prix d’Été again.”
Those words came from Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter, who sent out Sunfire Blue Chip for the 'inaugural revival' of the Prix d’Été. Despite drawing the far outside eight post, Sunfire Blue Chip and driver Yannick Gingras were able to overcome the bad post and the top competition plus a rainy track surface in setting the all-age track record with a 1:50.3 triumph.
This year the Prix d’Été, which is restricted to four-year-old pacers only and is part of harness racing's Grand Circuit, is on Sunday, August 23, a month earlier than last year. A total of 19 horses have remained eligible to the race and the top eight money earners in 2015 that enter will get behind the starting gate for the $200,000 race.
“I am sorry that I cannot come up for the race again this year,” Takter explained, "The race day is in conflict with the stakes races at Tioga Downs and I more entered there so I must be there that day.”
But just like last year, Takter is sending another outstanding pacer to Quebec in Somewhere In L A. The son of Somebeachsomewhere is a career winner of $642,000 and has been racing against the best in the sport. Two starts back he was second in the Roy Davis Memorial at The Meadows and in his prior start he won at Yonkers Raceway, wiring the field in 1:52 for driver Daniel Dube.
The Prix d’Été is one of the richest races of the year for four-year-olds at $200,000 and there are some other trainers and owners who would like to win it.
“We will see how Ideal Cowboy races this Saturday night,” said owner Jeff Bamond. “I think if he comes out of the race OK then we will send him to the Prix d’Été. We had a wonderful time last year when Mach It So finished fourth.”
Ideal Cowboy goes at Yonkers Raceway Saturday in their four-year-old open pace.
The Ron Burke Stable has two top horses eligible for the Prix d’Été in All Bets Off and Limelight Beach, who both raced in Friday's Dan Patch Free-For-All at Hoosier Park.
“If everything goes well [at Hoosier Park] I would think we would send both of them to the Prix d’Été,” said co-owner Mark Weaver.
It will be interesting after this weekend’s racing action to see who will be traveling up to Trois-Rivieres in Quebec for the Prix d’Été.
“My only question about the Prix d’Été,” said trainer Jimmy Takter, “is who will drive my horse? That will be an interesting decision next week as I usually use Corey Callahan or Daniel Dube with Somewhere In L A.”
That decision and a few more will all have to be made by next Wednesday, August 19 before noon when they close the entry box for Sunday’s program on Prix d’Été Day.
Other top contenders eligible to the Prix d’Été include Luck Be Withyou, Big Boy Dreams, Mattamerican and National Debt.
First race post time on Prix d’Été Day is 1:30 p.m. Also on the race program will be the final leg of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series for two-year-old pacing colts.
(with files from QJC)