This Sunday (Sept. 8), Hippodrome 3R will feature its richest race program of the 2019 season with its Super Sunday Championship card featuring more than $500,000 in purses.
The Super Sunday program is highlighted by eight championship finals. There are four $65,000 divisions of the Breeders Cup Series for three-year-old trotters and pacers and four $55,000 finals of the Future Stars Series for two-year-olds.
All four champions from last year at age two are back in the finals again at age three. They are Only For Justice (Race 4), Cooking The Speed (Race 8), Claudi P V (Race 11) and YS Sunshine (Race 12).
Here is a brief look at the final fields.
Race 4: Three-year-old colt trot final -– Only For Justice seeks a repeat championship starting from the rail for driver Stephane Brosseau. They are facing a tough task against track record holder Cesar Duharas from post six for driver Pascal Berube. Cesars Duharas is on a two-race winning streak.
Race 5: Two-year-old filly pace final –- SOS Cupcake drew the far outside in post eight for driver Stephane Gendron but still shows the speed to be the race favourite and is on a two-race winning streak. Lotus Sena (post five) will cut the mile and could lead from start to finish.
Race 7: Two-year-old colt trot final -– Babidibou (post two) has been first or second in his five lifetime starts and has won last two starts from both on and off the pace. Kenogami Coco (post four) may lead from the start and hold on and Major Bay (post eight) drew poorly but has gate speed to overcome and be a factor.
Race 8: Three-year-old filly pace final -– Cooking The Speed (post two) is seeking to repeat in the championship final but will have a tough task going against the entry from Yves Filion of Akita Bayama and Audi Bayama. Also, a major factor in the race will be HP Xanadu (post six), who has been first or second in last five starts.
Race 9: Two-year-old filly trot final –- Emotions Durables (post five) must stay on stride to win. She broke last start but still rallied to be third and prior had won three straight races. HP Starlette (post two) and SOS Thumper (post one) could be a factor if Emotions Durables falters in any way.
Race 10: Two-year-old colt pace final -– Whitecookie has been sensational this season for owner, trainer, driver Marie Claude Auger. The son of Windfall Blue Chip is undefeated in six starts and has beaten nearly everyone in the field.
Race 11: Three-year-old filly trot final –- Claudi P V (post 6) has not raced as well this year as she did last year in winning the championship. Kinderunbelievable (post five) and Cor Leo (post three) loom as the two favourites in the race.
Race 12: Three-year-old colt pace final -– Could be the best race of the day. YS Sunshine (post three) tries for a second championship but face a very tough field that includes Ashleysbest (post seven) who two starts back tied the track record with a 1:52.4 triumph and he enters the race on a three-race winning streak. Other contenders include NP Napoleon (post six) and GA Speed Gaby (post eight).
The 14-race program kicks off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. For a free race program and to watch the races from Hippodrome 3R live, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the entries for Sunday's card of harness racing at 3R, click one of the following links: Sunday Entries || Sunday Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)