Handicappers will surely take notice of the first race this Friday (July 31) at the Hippodrome 3R. The tilt is a trotting contest that will see a two-year-old by the name of X O X O take on older horses, which is definitely something that you don’t see every day.
Breeder/owner/driver Jerome Lombart of Bromont owns just two broodmares, yet almost every year he has young horses ready to race. Over the years, Lombart has recorded a track record, his horses have won series championships at H3R, and he now has high hopes for X O X O, which is the symbol for hugs and kisses.
"She's a filly that does everything you want her to do well from the very beginning when I tamed her,” Lombart said. “It doesn't guarantee anything, but at least it's going in the right direction.
“The dam of this filly is Promising Lavec, and she gives offspring which generally go well at two years old," Lombart explained. "Sometimes things go bad at three, however. These days, I only count on Promising Lavec and Fauvette Gale for my foals. The first gives more calm horse(s), the second more speed but less calmness."
X O X O is from the mare Promising Lavec, who is also the dam of Lucky Promesses, who is also set to race Friday in the Preferred Trot (Race 5).
“X O X O is the half-sister of Lucky Promesses,” Lombart said. “She's is sired by Lucky Fool, not by Angus Hall. In fact, the last three offspring of Promising Lavec are by Angus Hall: Silky Lavec, X O X O and a filly born this year that I called La Bromontoise.
“And the good progress of X O X O prompted me to pay for its Ontario Sires Stakes eligibility," Lobart added, before stating that there is still a long way to go. "Keep in mind that last Saturday X O X O beat only two opponents. We will have a better idea this week."
X O X O, pictured in full stride at H3R for owner/breeder/driver Jerome Lombart.
X O X O will start from the rail Friday. The Andreane Lapierre trainee made her first start last week, which came in the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit. In the race, she led from start to finish and stopped the clock in 2:05.3.
On Friday, she's scheduled to race against Thats Hooligan (Post 5), who is a four-year-old return winner, along with three-year-old winners Miss Melodie (Post 2) and Indi (Post 4).
The Preferred-Handicap Pace (Race 4) has drawn a full field of eight and features the dominant Windsun Cheyenne, who has won this class the last two starts in 1:56.2 and 1:55.3. He won from Post 7 last week, so being handicapped with Post 8 on Friday should not hinder his chances of making it three consecutive wins for H3R’s leading driver, Pascal Berube.
The field will also feature rivals Hooter Shooter (Post 7), the return of Surf Report (Post 5), and D J Power (Post 4), who has the red-hot young driver Samuel Fillion in the sulky.
Then, the fifth race will be the scene of the Preferred-Handicap co-featured trot, which is headlined by two return winners in Missionoftheheart (Post 6) and Keepall (Post 5).
Missionoftheheart was the best of her career last week at H3R, as she led from start to finish for driver Stephane Gendron in a lifetime record mile of 1:58.2. The six-year-old mare by Manofmanymissions is trained by co-owner Michel Allard and romped last week by four and one-quarter lengths.
Keepall has won his last starts at H3R, the fastest in 1:59.1 for driver Carol Voyer and trainer Sylvain Tremblay. He has already recorded three wins this season.
Post time on Friday will be at 4:00 p.m. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3R.ca.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at H3R, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)