Trotters will be in the spotlight at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday (June 6) with nine high-steppers going to post in the Preferred 1-2 Handicap.
Four-time Quebec Bred Champion Capteur De Reve makes his 2021 debut from post seven in the first race. Now age seven, the gelded son of Muscle Mass enters the race off a qualifying win for trainer Maxime Velaye and will be driven by Stephane Gendron.
A 25-time race winner for breeder/owner Provoquante Stable of Mirabel, Capteur De Reve is the 4-1 third choice in the race.
The race favourite is Profound Paragon (post eight) who was able to come from behind and draw off in a 1:58.3 score for driver Jean Bernard Renaud and trainer Francis Richard in his last start in this class.
Another return winner in the race is Bucketlist Hanover (post one). Last week, the eight-year-old gelding and driver Samuel Fillion wired the field with an impressive three and one-quarter length romp in 1:57.3, the fastest trotting mile at 3R this season.
Other top contenders in the field include Captain Krupnik (post eight), Severus Hanover (post six) and Eau Naturelle (post five).
There are two co-featured Preferred events for the pacers during Sunday's card of harness racing.
The pacing mares do battle in the third race where Y C Easy goes for her third straight win in the Preferred-Handicap Pace. The six-year-old Sportswriter mare has wired the field in both her starts at 3R, the fastest in 1:56.4 with Louis-Philippe Roy driving. This week Jonathan Lachance will be in the sulky for owner-trainer Carl Duguay of Trois-Rivieres.
The ninth race Preferred-Handicap Pace is another slugfest of the top older pacers with nine starters going to post.
Both Preferred winners are in the field and the favorite is Littlebitaswagger, who drew post nine for driver Francis Picard and owner-trainer Charles Gaudreault. The nine-year-old by Santanna Blue Chip had an inside post in his last start and went right to the lead and never looked back, scoring in 1:55.3.
He will be taking on rival Dreydl Hanover (post six), who defeated Littlebitaswagger in their last meeting, sitting on his back the entire mile and then outkicking him to the wire to win in 1:55.4.
Other top pacers in the field include Mickeymaksomespeed (post seven), Hooter Shooter (post five) and Somewhere Bettor (post eight).
Post time Sunday is 12:30 pm. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca. To view the entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)