The third and final preliminary round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotting fillies and colts takes place Friday afternoon (Aug. 19) at Hippodrome 3R.
After the preliminary rounds are completed, the top eight point-earners who have competed in at least two of the three legs, will be eligible for the $65,000 finals at 3R on Sunday, Sept. 11.
The trotting fillies are showcased in the $10,000 sixth race, which will be a preview of the final as the top contenders, Stella Alpha, HP Felicity (pictured above) and Kikiwaka all face each other again.
Stella Alpha (Post 3) is the winningest horse at 3R this season with seven wins total and six at her home track. She has been off her game as of late, making a rare break and finishing last in an overnight race last week. She is handled by the leading driver at 3R, Pascal Berube, and leading trainer, Sylvain Tremblay.
HP Felicity (Post 4) is the only horse in the field to have beaten Stella Alpha in the series. She has prepared for this race with a strong second place finish for driver Robert Shepherd last week in 1:59.4. HP Felicity is trained by Isabelle Darveau for owners/breeders Claude Hamel and Michel Damphousse.
Kikiwaka (Post 6) earlier this season took her lifetime mark at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a 1:55.2 triumph. Since then, it has been a major effort to keep her on-stride. Trainer/driver David Pilon may have found the key to success with Kikiwaka coming into the race off a very impressive 2:00.1 qualifying win.
With only four colts entering the final leg, the race will be held as a non-wagering event between the first and second races on Friday.
Cleveland Massino has won three of his last four starts for trainer and co-owner Jean-Francois Maguire. Last week, he posted a lifetime best 1:59.3 triumph and starts from post two for driver Robert Shepherd.
His stablemate Royalty Beer was last year’s Quebec Champion Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt. He goes from post four for driver Kevin Maguire. In his last start, he was second in the Preferred Handicap Trot and the race prior won the second leg of the series in 2:00.4 for Ecuries Maguire Inc. and Jean-Francois Maguire.
This is the second-to-last Friday afternoon race card at 3R. Post time on Friday is 4 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)