The Future Stars Series for two-year-old trotters and pacers gets underway this weekend at Hippodrome 3R with seven divisions of competition.
The series features three weeks of preliminary competition with the top eight point earners in each division returning on Sunday, September 8 for their respective $55,000 finals.
The young trotters are first in the spotlight Friday evening with two divisions, one each for the fillies and colts.
The fillies see action first in the third race. Muscle Beauty is the early favourite from post six for driver Pascal Berube and trainer Serge Nadeau.
This daughter of Muscle Mass, the only foal from the game raceway mare Ocean Mist Beauty, already has a win in the Quebec Regional Fair last week at 3R. She is co-owned by Nadeau with Scott-Marcel Brouillard of St-Marcel-De Richelieu.
She will be taking on three daughters of Wheeling N Dealin, the best of which is Persue Justice from post five for driver Daniel Laflamme and Miss Sofia (post two) for driver Stephane Gendron.
The colts are in action in the sixth race where another foal of Wheeling N Dealin, Kenogami Coco, is the overwhelming favourite from post one.
A half-brother to Kenogami Darling, Kenogami Coco is trained by Dany Fontaine and was bred by Jean Francois Reid, who co-owns the gelding with Marie Claude Reid of Anjou.
He ships to Quebec from Ontario, where he finished seventh (timed in 1:59.1), in a Gold division of the Ontario Sires Stakes. He will be driven by Stephane Brosseau.
Other contenders include Major Bay (post five), Babidibou (post six), and Indi (post three).
Post time on Friday is 7:00 p.m. To view entries for Friday's card, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
On Sunday there are four divisions (two for fillies and two for colts) of the Future Stars Series for the pacers.
Standouts include undefeated Whitecookie (post one) in the third race for the colts. This son of Windfall Blue Chip has won twice in 1:58.2, and 1:58.3 at Rideau Carleton Raceway for owner, trainer and driver Marie Claude Auger.
Another top colt is the Bettors Delight son, My Bettors Del (post five) in the sixth race. Although winless in three starts this season, he has been racing against the best in Ontario for trainer Jacques Dupont and owners Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation and Gestion Ham Audet, Inc. of Portneuf.
My Bettors Del won a qualifier in 1:57 but was second in a $23,500 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division on Tuesday (July 16) and race-timed in 1:54.2.
He will be taking on three recent winners, Kinnder Big Boss (post one), Eclat De Rire (post three) and Saloon Magic (post four).
Post time Sunday is 1:00 p.m. To view entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)