The Ron Burke Stable entry of All Bets Off and Limelight Beach headline the four-year-olds that have entered the $200,000 second annual renewal of the Prix D’Ete set for Sunday at Hippodrome 3R.
Canada’s premier pacing event for many years, Hippodrome 3R management revived the race last year for four-year-olds as part of the Grand Circuit. In 2014, Sunfire Blue Chip erased the prior track record by nearly three seconds with a 1:50.3 triumph.
“This year’s field could very well break that record," said 3R General Manager Vincent Trudel. "Our forecast is for a beautiful sunny and warm day and our track will be lighting fast Sunday afternoon. Our race secretary has assembled a great program for our fans.”
All Bets Off, a career winner of $1.4 million, is the star attraction. He starts from post four for driving sensation Matt Kakaley. The son of Bettors Delight comes into the race off two strong second place finishes and was race timed in 1:49.1 at both Hoosier Park and the Meadowlands. Earlier this season he also won the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs, setting the track record in his elimination race in 1:50.4.
The second part of the Burke entry, Limelight Beach, drew post six but has early gate speed as shown three starts back when he won at Yonkers Raceway in 1:51.4, and is sure to benefit from Hippodrome 3R's brand-new slanted starting gate. Limelight Beach will be driven by talented Mark MacDonald.
Big Boy Dreams starts from post two for driver Simon Allard. Purchased at the Tattersalls January Select Mixed Sale for $265,000, trainer Rene Allard bought this horse with the Prix D’Ete as his main goal. He comes into the race off an impressive qualifying win at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs in 1:50.2.
Jimmy Takter was the trainer of Sunfire Blue Chip, last year’s Prix D’Ete winner and he wants to win another one this year with Somewhere In L A. The gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere has been first or second in his four of his last five starts and has a record this year of 1:50.4. Somewhere In L A drew post three and will be driven by Trois-Rivieres' most famous native son, Daniel Dube.
Trainer Justin Jones gets back in the race bike and will drive his Winds Of Change from the rail. They will ship in from Ontario where Winds Of Change was third in his last start in 1:50.2.
Rounding out the field is the local favorite, Boomboom Ballykeep for trainer Richard Moreau. They start from post five and in the bike will top reinsman Mario Baillargeon. They have had it rough the last few weeks but back on July 25, Boomboom Ballykeel won at Mohawk Raceway in 1:49.3.
Prior to the revival of the Prix D’Ete at 3R, the race was initially known as the Prix d’Automne and was won by older horses such as the great Bret Hanover. The marquee event at Blue Bonnets racetrack in Montreal was converted into a race for three-year-old pacers in 1970 and remained one of the major North American stakes in the division until its last running in 1992. Past winners included Cam Fella, Niatross, Albatross, Strike Out, Abercrombie, Matts Scooter and Beach Towel.
There will be four divisions of the second round of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series for two-year-old pacers as part of the 12-race extravaganza race program Sunday. To view entries for Sunday's card, click one of the following links: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R - Program Pages - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)