This Sunday (Sept. 27) the Quebec Jockey Club hosts the Quebec Championship Finals with eight events for two and three-year-old trotters and pacers at Hippodrome 3R.
It is the richest day of harness racing in all of Quebec with purses on the 12-race program totaling more than $500,000. The Future Stars Series Finals for two-year-olds each race for a purse of $55,000 while the Breeders Trophy Series Finals for three-year-olds race for $65,000 each.
Adding to the race program is the return of world class drivers Sylvain Filion and Louis-Philippe Roy to their home track. Sylvain Filion will compete in nine of the 12 races presented, including five finals; Louis-Philippe Roy completes in 10 of the 12 races and six of the finals. No doubt they come to spice up and enhance the quality of the show offered with their presence.
Here is a brief synopsis of the eight championship finals Sunday.
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot Final – With only four entered, this race will be non-wagering, held after the 1st race. Also, the race is non-wagering because of Mag N Lady (Royalty For Life). She starts from post one, has swept all three legs of the series, and last week became the first two-year-old filly to trot under two minutes in the history of 3R with a track record 1:59.2 mile for trainer-driver Jean Francois Maquire.
Two-Year-Old Colt Trot Final – Race 3 - Kinnder Dangerzone (Northern Escort) is the colt to beat. He has swept all three legs of the series with ease for driver Pierre-Luc Roy and owner, trainer, breeder Denitza Petrova.
Hall Win (Angus Hall) in post two has a win in the series when not going against Kinnder Dangerzone. He will be driven by Pierre-Luc’s younger brother, Louis-Philippe Roy.
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace Final – Race 7 – Sylvain Filion has come back home to 3R to drive his dad’s horses (Yves) and he is aboard Celia Bayama (Bettors Delight), who ships back to 3R after taking a lifetime mark at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a 1:54 score in OSS Grassroots action. She has won three of her last four starts. CL Sportsextreme (Sportswriter) has been very sharp with Jonathan Lachance in the sulky.
Two-Year-Old Colt Pace Final – Race 9 – Yves Filion’s coupled entry of Cadillac Bayama (Sylvain drives) and Colonel Bayama (Yves drives) looms way over this field. Cadillac Bayama won two legs of the series and has been super competitive in the OSS Grassroots, race timed last week in 1:52.
Colonel Bayama just won in the series and they will take on contenders YS Do It Right (Louis-Philippe Roy) and The Light Speed (Pascal Berube).
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot Final – Race 2 – Another Denitza Petrova standout is Kinnder High Class (Post 3). The filly by Royalty For Life won two legs of the series and last week scored a lifetime best 2:00 win against older trotters. Rivals include HP Starlette (Post 6) and Lindas Pride (Post 7).
Three-Year-Old Colt Trot Final – Race 6 – Kenogami Coco (Wheeling N Dealin) ships back to 3R after scoring two impressive wins in the OSS Grassroots at Mohawk, the fastest in 1:56.2. Last year’s two-year-old winner, Babidibou, has also been very sharp and Frido PV is also a decent contender.
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace Final – Race 10 – Tough call here as last year’s champion, Acaena De Chakrika (Sunshine Beach) takes on Streakazana (Western Paradise). Streakazana is on an impressive three-race winning streak, beating Acaena De Chakrika last week. Two top fillies plus Zar E Ip (Up The Credit) will make this a tough race.
Three-Year-Old Colt Pace Final – Race 11 – Saving the best for last. Eclat De Rire (Leader Bayama) is the defending 2019 champion and just made it to the final. Stablemate/entry Retour Au Jeu (Hes Watching) is the sharper of the two, having won three of his last four starts, the fastest a lifetime mark of 1:54.2. Mickeymaksomespeed (Mickey Hanover) just popped at 3R in 1:54.2 and has won three of his last four starts. Whitecookie (Windfall Blue Chip) and HP I Got To Play (Shadow Play) are also contenders in this tough field.
First race post time on Sunday is 1:00 p.m. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)