Last Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R, Rocky Boy was feeling his oats in scoring a TKO in the Preferred Trot. He now faces some tough invaders this Sunday as he seeks a repeat performance.
There are nine starters in the seventh race co-feature. Rocky Boy and driver Marc Belanger start from Post 7. Last week he was pressured to a blazing :27.4 opening quarter on H3R’s half-mile oval, and then held the field at bay winning in a romp by six and three-quarter lengths in 1:57.
In any other age or gender division at H3R, that would have been a track record mile. The record for older trotting geldings is 1:56, set by both Pablo Angus (2008) and Michelangelo (2014).
Invaders to H3R for the top trot that will give Rocky Boy a tussle include Raising Richard in Post 5 for driver Richard Simard. Raising Richard comes into the contest on a three-race winning streak at Rideau Carleton, the fastest a 1:57 triumph. Raising Richard sports four wins this season in just nine starts.
Four Starz Speed is the class of the field with career earnings of $805,000. The old man of the field at age 12, Four Starz Speed recently won at Rideau Carleton in 1:58.4 and has three wins already this season.
Torches Angel, the lone mare in the field, was second best to Rocky Boy last week. She starts from Post 6 for driver Pierre-Luc Roy while track record holder Caroluzzo goes from Post 4 with Stephane Gendron handling the lines.
Sunday’s Preferred Pace is a wide-open affair with nine starters in the 10th race.
Newcomer Ufdragons Rocket ships in from Mohawk Racetrack and goes from Post 5 for driver Stephane Gendron. They have been made the 5-2 race favourite. He did not fare well in his two starts at Mohawk, but had won four straight races at Rideau Carleton -- the fastest in 1:52.1 -- and sports five wins this season.
HP Patriote, the top three-year-old pacer of 2016 and Sire Stakes Champion, returns to H3R starting from Post 7 for trainer/driver Gerard Demers. Last season the gelded son of Vintage Master won an impressive 13 starts. He is making just his second start of the season.
Another top three-year-old from last season in the Quebec-Bred Series making his debut Sunday in the Preferred Pace is Sports Authority. He starts from Post 3 for trainer Maxime Velaye and driver Pierre-Luc Roy.
Velaye feels that this one will be the big star in the stable this year and has kept him eligible for the $200,000 Prix D’Ete on August 20. HP Patriote is also nominated for the Prix D’Ete.
Other contenders in the field include Pantheon Seelster (Post 8), Bali (Post 6) and Onyx (Post 1).
TRACK NOTES: Driver Stephane Gendron is now 11 wins away from his 4,000th career win and has six drives Sunday. Both Reposession (Race 2) and Jamigo (Race 7) will seek to remain undefeated at H3R this season, both with two wins already.
First race post time is 12:50 p.m. To view entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)