Throughout the harness racing season, the half-mile oval at Trois-Rivieres averages nearly eight starters per race but this Sunday the track hosts a Preferred Pace with just five starters. And these five starters have been superb performers all season long.
The small field may be one of the most competitive races assembled at 3R.
The morning line favorite at 5/2 odds in the third race feature is the hard-hitting pacer Maracasso for trainer/driver Carol Voyer.
This seven-year-old gelded son of Lis Mara is on a three-race winning streak between 3R and Rideau Carleton Raceway. That streak could be four-in-a-row except Maracasso skipped a couple of pylons back on September 15, won the race but was placed last.
A nine-race winner this year, Maracasso and Voyer start from post four for the Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan. Predominately, Maracasso does his best racing on the front end where he has wired the field in nearly all his victories, winning at Rideau in a lifetime best 1:54.2 and just two weeks ago doing the same at 3R in 1:54.4.
Considering that Maracasso was unraced last year, Voyer has done a superb job in bringing back his star pacer for the 2019 season.
Of course, it will not be a walk in the park for Maracasso on Sunday as he faces last week’s Preferred winner, Hooter Shooter, who goes from post three for driver Pascal Berube.
Last week at 3R the six-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding posted his eighth win of the year, coming from off the pace -- seventh at the three-quarters -- and closed to win it all by a half-length in 1:55.4.
Another starter who has missed nearly two years of racing is Histoire Enchantee from post five driver Stephane Gendron. Histoire Enchantee, a $100,000-plus winner with a record of 1:50.1 at the end of his three-year-old season, was injured and it has taken nearly two seasons for trainer Maxime Velaye to get him back to the races.
This season Histoire Enchantee returned and flourished with three straight wins, the fastest in 1:56.4 and in his debut in the Preferred class saw him finish second in 1:55.1.
Also entered are six-time winner Surf Report from post one for driver Tyler Jones, and nine-time winner Appleby Hanover in post two.
First race post time is 1:00 pm Sunday. For a free race program and to view the races live on the internet, visit quebecjockeyclub.com. To view entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R
(Quebec Jockey Club)