The third and final preliminary round of the $200,000 Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old trotters will be contested at Hippodrome 3R this Wednesday night, with the top horses qualifying for their respective $35,000 series championships on Sunday, June 14.
There will be one $6,500 event for mares, slotted in Race 6, with $6,500 divisions in Races 1 and 3 for the horses and geldings – one of which is so dominant, wagering will not be allowed on him, for better betting balance for the bettor.
The ‘super horse’ is Maximuscle, who got the advantage of drawing Post 1 for driver Mario Charron, trainer Maxime Velaye, and owners Ecurie Provoquante. After winning in the first leg in 1:58.4, the altered son of Angus Hall took last week off, but he’ll be back Wednesday in the third race, looking to stay sharp to win his third consecutive series title, having won at age two and three, both in stakes-record time.
The two horses who took the second-round divisions in Maximuscle’s absence last week, Andovers Touch and SOS Ticket Master, were unfortunate at the post draw, getting the outside gate spots five and six, respectively, in the first-race prelim for the males. Andovers Touch won in the faster time last week (2:00.1, vs. SOS Ticket Master’s 2:02.1), and was second to Maximuscle the first week, so it is likely that the Andover Hall gelding, driven by Stephane Pouliot for trainer Dany Fontaine and owners Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc., will be the post-time favourite.
In the distaff split, Viva Bayama, winner of her first-leg prelim, has a decided post advantage (Post 3 vs. Post 7) over Canbec Kangourou, who won the only division in the second round, as the last two winners of the Quebec 3TF Championship square off in a field of eight. Viva Bayama will have the services of Denis St Pierre, who swept all three of the second-round series pacing races Sunday for trainer Sebastien Groux, while Canbec Kangourou, conditioned by Jean Tourigny, will have the sulky services of Jocelyn Gendron. Mention should be made of Ocean Mist Beauty (Post 2, driver Stephane Brosseau), who won a division of the first-round elim and was second to Canbec Kangourou last week.
The first of Wednesday’s 10 races at Hippodrome 3R will be going to post at 7 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Wednesday at Hippodrome 3R, click the following link: Wednesday Entries – Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)