Rivalries make harness racing the exciting sport it has been in North America for more than 200 years, and on Sunday at Hippodrome 3R the rivalries continue.
Since the beginning of the race meet at 3R, Mickeymaksomespeed, Dreydl Hanover and Alittlebitaswagger have been going at each other in the Preferred-Handicapped Pace and those three standout performers go at it once again on Sunday.
Despite a fifth-place finish last week against his two rivals, Dreydl Hanover is the 5/2 morning line favourite in the seventh race co-feature on Sunday for driver Samuel Fillion.
An 11-year-old gelding by Cams Card Shark, Dreydl Hanover won the Preferred Pace the prior two weeks in a row, the fastest in 1:54, which was the fastest mile at 3R this season. He starts from post two for trainer Francis Richard.
Mickeymaksomespeed goes from post seven and last week he showed the ability to come from off the pace and won the Preferred Pace by a slim nose in 1:56. Prior to that the four-year-old stallion by Mickey Hanover, owned, bred and trained by Michel Allard, has won in 1:54.2 and has been second and third in this class. He will again be driven by Jonathan Lachance.
Alittlebitaswagger has only one win in the Preferred rivalry for owner-trainer Charles Gaudreault, a 1:55.2 score, but the nine-year-old Santanna Blue Chip gelding was also third by only a head last week to Mickeymaksomespeed. Prior to that he was second twice in this class. He will have Francis Picard in the sulky.
Rivalries are not just limited to the horses, but also to the mares as Fancy Girl, Sophies Cam and Y C Easy all go head-to-head Sunday in the sixth race Preferred-Handicap Mares Pace.
Fancy Girl looms the favourite from post six for driver Francis Picard, having finished a game second by a neck on Friday to Platine Alpha. Sophies Cam (Post 4) returns to the racing wars and was an eight-time winner last year. Y C Easy (Post 7) has won in this class and was third twice. Making her 2021 debut in the top race for the mares is Wild River Swan (Post 8, a standout at 3R last season.
First race post time is 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R
(Quebec Jockey Club)