Most everyone in harness racing awaits the start of the two-year-old race season, and it is getting underway also in Québec with a field of rookie pacers stealing the limelight at Hippodrome 3R Friday afternoon (July 9).
Four fillies and four colts will cross swords in the ninth race.
A look at each of the eight starters in the race follows.
#1 Ritchie Alpha (post 6)
No doubt trainer Sylvain Tremblay's two protégés are one step ahead of their competition. Their little experience, despite outside post positions, should favour them.
Ritchie Alpha, a son of Shanghai Phil and Miss Surprise, won his first start in 2:03.2. He is the first foal from Miss Surprise, a Bolero Master bred by Serge Nadeau. His grandmother, Look To Book, has a lifetime record of 1:52.2 and over $267,000 on her papers. It's all there.
#1a Titanium Alpha (post 8)
Titanium Alpha is a son of Hes Watching and Mother Ma Terre, a mare raised by Guy Corbeil. The grandmother, Desir, has a record of 1:52 and more than $536,000 on her papers. He is the half-brother of Platine Alpha, who heads the mares Preferred Pace in the eighth race Friday.
#2 Amaya (post 1)
Raised by Élisabeth Pothier and now entrusted to the Picard brothers, Amaya has a time of 2:05.2 achieved in a Regional Circuit race at H3R. The mother, Pearl Sweet Noc, is a mare that belongs to Élisabeth, whom she bred to Shanghai Phil. Amaya is the half-sister of Akoya ($106,000, 1:52.3) and Big Gang Bigolo ($31,000, 1:55.3).
#3 DGs Shallow (post 2)
Raised by Daniel Surprenant and now trained by Tony Valente, she wears the letters DGs that identify her well. She clocked a time of 2:06.2. She is by Shadow Play and out of DGs Tinkerbell (1:51.2, $ 246,000). She is the full sister of Shadowsbell DGs ($94,000, 1:53.2). She is also the half-sister of DGs De Vito, the winner of the Breeders' Trophy in 2019.
#4 Godiva Me Amour (post 3)
Raised by Raymond Larose, who also trains her, she is a daughter of Shanghai Phil and Godiva Beachgirl, who has Beach Towel blood. She clocked a time of 2:04.2 in a CR event. She is the half-sister of Godiva Mackiavelic ($52,000, $1.56.3 at H3R) and Godiva Lovely Lady, winner of the Breeders' Trophy in 2020. She already has $53,000 on her papers.
#5 Kinnder Dirty Diana (post 4)
Raised by Denita Petrova, as the name suggests, she was bought by Jean-Guy, Pépin who trains her. It is a Sunshine Beach, Kinnder Elegance mother of which it is the third offspring. Kinnder Elegance has a mark of 1:57.4 taken at H3R during its brief career. The mother is a half-sister of the unforgettable Kinnder Jackson ($183,000, 1:51) and Kinnder Untouchable (1:55.3). She already has a time of 2:07 taken in qualifying.
#6 Wannabeatthebeach (post 5)
The son of Sunshine Beach is the only one of these starters that was bought in an auction (London) by the father-son duo of Marc-André and Charles Cormier, who paid $6,000 for him as a yearling. He was timed in 2:05.1 at H3R. His mother, Weeping Wanabe, is an Artsplace mare who has a record of 1:51.1 with more than $430,000 earned. He is the half-brother of No Monkeys Allowed ($357,000, 1:50) and Asteria Blue Chip ($236,000, 1:53.1).
#7 Le Massif (post 7)
Mélanie Bouliane and Steeven Genois prepared the foal for the Largo stable. He clocked 2:04.4 at H3R. This is another son of Shanghai Phil and his mother, Charmed Native, has already given Major Dammage, who ran last year with us as a two-year-old. This mother is an Allamerican Native, who has a great career at stud farm. Pierre-Luc Roy will drive.
These two-year-olds will begin their stakes season starting on Sunday, July 25, with the start of the Future Stars Series at H3R. Each gait is eligible for total purses of more than $77,000.
Also on the menu at H3R is the Preferred Handicap Pace for the fillies and mares (race eight), which features the winningest horse this season at H3R, Platine Alpha, who is saddled with starting on the far outside in post 8 for driver Pascal Berube.
So far this season, Platine Alpha has five wins in eight starts for owner, breeder and trainer Sylvain Tremblay of Metabetchouan. All five of her wins have come at H3R. The three-year-old filly by Control The Moment has a record of 1:57 and has won five of her last six starts. The one loss was by a head.
Also entered is return winner Jans Legacy (post 7) for driver Stephane Brosseau. She won last week’s Preferred Pace in 1:57.4.
First race post time Friday is 4 p.m. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Friday's complete entries, click the following link: Friday Entries – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)