Track management at the Hippodrome 3R has announced today that there will be both an Invitational Trot and Pace on Sunday, September 21.
For this big weekend, the Hippodrome 3R is hosting a special Saturday night live racing program that will begin at 7:30 pm. The $250,000 Prix D’Ete will be held Sunday afternoon, September 21.
“We want to really showcase our excellent racing here at 3R,” said Vincent Trudel, general manager of the track. “So we are offering a $15,000 Invitational Trot and Pace on Sunday, in addition to the Prix D’Ete.
“Already we have sold out our dining room on Prix D’Ete Sunday,” Trudel said, “And reservations are going fast for the Saturday night too. So now that we will have big crowds coming out for the races we also want to have the best horses competing both days.”
La Route du Prix d'Ete #3 - La Finale
This is the last weekend before the revival of the $250,000 Prix D’Eté for the best four-year-old pacers in North America, to be held at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, September 21.
We take one last look at the major contenders for the $200,000 Prix D’Ete main event, and also spotlight a few horses who may race in the $50,000 Consolation.
The numbers in the parentheses (5$/2LR) after the horse’s name indicate where on the money winning list a horse is, and what his ranking was in our last report (“x” means he was below the Top Ten); if he is in to race this coming weekend, such fact is noticed after his comment in (parentheses).
1. SUNFIRE BLUE CHIP (5$/2LR) – On fire right now, with four straight wins at four different tracks for Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter, including a 1:49.2 victory at Pocono this past Saturday, with a 26.4 last quarter. Regular driver Yannick Gingras comes home with a likely favou rite.
2. MACH IT SO (2$/1LR) – He was third in the Pocono race that Sunfire Blue Chip won, coming from seventh at the half to be beaten in a photo for second. Before that he had reeled off three straight triumphs, including a 1:48.2 mile at Pocono.
3. CAPTIVE AUDIENCE (3$/4LR) – Finished fourth against older horses in the Canadian Pacing Derby Final last Saturday at Mohawk, with the vaunted Sweet Lou trailing him at the wire. (In to go: Saturday at Mohawk in the Preferred.)
4. SHAMBALLA (9$/xLR) -- The “sleeper” in the group. He’s never faced stakes horses, but he’s won five out of his last six, including a 1:49.3 win with a 26.4 last quarter at Mohawk. And it’s doubtful having Rick Zeron as trainer/driver will be a disadvantage in a Quebec race.
5. WINDSONG JACK (6$/8LR) – Another late developer who comes out of the top-rated Ron Burke barn. Last week he was blocked much of the way, but then delivered a devastating last 1/16 to blow by the best horses at The Meadows. (In to go: Friday at The Meadows vs. the same type,)
6. WORD POWER (4$/3LR) – Not quite as sharp as a few weeks ago. (In to go: Saturday at Yonkers.)
7. LUCAN HANOVER (11$/xLR) – Raised his stock greatly with a 1:51.1 win at Yonkers last week. (In to go: Saturday at Yonkers.)
8. APPRENTICE HANOVER (1$/6LR) – “The best” almost to midseason, but has tailed off. (In to go: Saturday at Mohawk.)
9. TWILIGHT BONFIRE (13$/xLR) – Has been getting sharper by the week at The Meadows. (In to go: Friday at The Meadows.)
10. SUNSHINE BEACH (21$/5LR) – Locally-trained, but off-form as of late.
Reminder that Quebec does not allow the use of Lasix!
The management at the Hippodrome 3R wants to remind all horsemen and woman looking to race at the track during their Prix D’Ete weekend Saturday and Sunday, September 20th and 21st, that the Quebec Racing Commission does not allow the use of Lasix for horses.
(QJC)