Sintra has been made the 2-1 morning line favourite in Sunday’s $200,000 Prix D’Ete at the Hippodrome 3R for four-year-old pacers.
The gelded son of Mach Three has been nearly perfect this season for trainer Dave Menary, winning seven of his ten starts so far, and now draws the rail on Sunday, making him the horse to beat.
Owned by Brad Gray of Dundas, Michael Guerriero of Brampton and Menary Racing Inc. of Rockton, Ontario, Sintra will have Jody Jamieson once again doing the driving.
In their last start, two weeks ago in the Preferred Pace at Mohawk Raceway, Sintra came from fifth place at the top of the stretch and paced a final quarter in :25.4 to win in 1:48.4. Two starts back from that he went a lifetime-best mile, romping in 1:47.2 to capture the $240,000 Graduate Series Final at the Meadowlands.
While Sintra has raced against and beaten everyone in the field except for Sports Authority, it will still take a big effort to win on Sunday.
Awesomeness, from post three for driver James MacDonald, won his last start at Mohawk in a lifetime best 1:50. Brittany Farm’s Western Fame, driven by Trevor Henry, is one of two in the race for trainer Jimmy Takter. In his last start, Western Fame was second by a nose in a dead heat at Yonkers Raceway in 1:53.1. Lyons Snyder, also from the Takter Stable, is the 4-1 second choice and will have Trois-Rivieres-native Daniel Dube in the sulky. He'll start from post two.
Drawing the far outside with post eight is Dr J Hanover, who earlier this season became the fastest winner ever on Canadian soil with his 1:46.4 victory at Mohawk in a preliminary of the Graduate Series. He will be driven by Doug McNair.
Roll Away Joe, from the Ron Burke Stable, goes from post four for driver Louis-Philippe Roy. Trainer-driver Stephane Pouliot will start his son of Mach Three, Stonebridge Beach from post six.
The long shot in the field is a local horse, Sports Authority, starting from post seven for trainer Maxime Velaye. This son of Sportswriter, owned by Guy Corbeil of Mirabel, is coming off a strong 1:52.4 victory at Rideau Carlton. He will be driven by Pierre Luc Roy, the older brother of Louis-Philippe.
Trainer Ron Burke is going for his third straight victory in the Prix D’Ete, having won last year with Rockin Ron over Wiggle It Jiggleit in 1:52 over a sloppy track. The prior year he won with All Bets Off, tying the all-age track record in 1:50.3 that was first set by Sunfire Blue Chip, a Jimmy Takter-trianee, in 2014.
The Prix D’Ete was revived by the Quebec Jockey Club back in 2014. The Prix D'Ete was the most prestigious race in all of Canada from 1966 through 1992. World champions Brett Hanover, Albatross, Niatross, Hot Hitter, Cam Fella, On The Road Again, Ralph Hanover, Matts Scooter and a host of other top pacers had won the Prix D'Ete when it was held at the old Blue Bonnets Racecourse.
There are four divisions of the third and final preliminary round of the Future Stars Series for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Sunday. The $55,000 finals for this series will be held on Sunday, September 3.
Below is the field for the Prix D'Ete:
14th Race $200,000 Prix D’Ete
1. Sintra (Jody Jamieson) 2-1
2. Lyons Snyder (Daniel Dube) 4-1
3. Awesomeness (James MacDonald) 5-1
4. Roll Away Joe (Louis-Philippe Roy) 5-1
5. Western Fame (Trevor Henry) 6-1
6. Stonebridge Beach (Stephane Pouliot) 10-1
7. Sports Authority (Pierre Luc Roy) 12-1
8. Dr J Hanover (Doug McNair) 6-1
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Hippodrome 3R)