The Quebec Jockey Club is set to play host to a three-day weekend of live harness racing action at the Hippodrome 3R.
Over the course of this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the half-mile oval will host a total of 24 races.
Friday’s program will start in the late afternoon, as it carries a 4:00 p.m. first post. Then, on Saturday, it will be Quebec Regional Fair Circuit Day at H3R. The track will then offer another full card of action on Sunday. Both Saturday and Sunday’s programs will get underway at 1:00 p.m.
While it is still early in the racing season at H3R, the three standouts among the driving colony are in a dogfight for control of the lead, and the same goes for the training ranks.
Three-time defending driving champion Stephane Gendron is currently tied with Pascal Berube as the winningest driver (each with 12 victories). Following in a close third place is Stephane Brosseau (11 wins). All three drivers have been top contenders at the track for many years. Also to be recognized is driver Carol Voyer, who this year has had a limited number of drives (16), and has been outstanding with a Universal Driving Rating (baseball average) of .500, which would be tops in any league.
And the trainers have a tight competition, too. Maxime Velaye leads the pack with five wins; and tied for second with four wins apiece are three-time defending trainer champion Francis Richard, Michel Allard, Charles Gaudreault and Pierre Leclerc.
All of the aforementioned drivers and most of the trainers will be back in action on Friday and will be put to the test in the featured Preferred-Handicap Pace (Race 7).
Windsun Cheyenne has been made the 5-2 mild morning line favourite from Post 7 for driver Pascal Berube. Last week, the 10-year-old gelded son of Cams Card Shark was able to show his heels to his younger competitors, as he led from start to finish in 1:55.3. Windsun Cheyenne started from the rail last week, and starting from the outside Post 7 this week could well hinder his chances for a repeat victory on Friday.
Hooter Shooter has been handicapped for Friday's tilt and will start from Post 8 for driver Stephane Brosseau. Two starts back, he won the Preferred in 1:56.1, but that was from the rail. Hooter Shooter, unlike Windsun Cheyenne, has raced well in the past from outside posts.
DJ Power is a force to be reckoned with and will start from the rail for pilot Samuel Fillion. Fillion has two wins, the fastest in 1:56.2, and a game second last week with DJ Power, who has found new life this season racing on the front end.
Outlaw Turn N Burn (Post 9), Maracasso (Post 6) and Always A Diamond (Post 5) figure to also provide some strong competition in the race.
For a free race program for each day this weekend, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view the entries for H3R's Friday, Saturday and Sunday cards, please click the corresponding links that appear below.
(Quebec Jockey Club)