Two-year-olds in spotlight at H3R

Trois-Rivieres, QC – Most everyone in harness racing awaits the start of the two-year-olds’ race season and it is getting underway also in Quebec with a field of pacers stealing the limelight at the Hippodrome 3R Friday afternoon.

Four fillies and four colts will cross swords in the ninth race that promises to be interesting to watch and wager on.

Let’s take a look at each of the eight starters in the race.

#1 Ritchie Alpha pp 6, #1A Titanium Alpha pp 8

No doubt, trainer Sylvain Tremblay’s two protégés are one step ahead of their competition. Their little experience, despite external positions, should favour them.

Ritchie Alpha, a son of Shanghai Phil and Miss Surprise, won his first start in 2.03.2, last quarter 30 seconds. The first foal, a colt, is from mother, Miss Surprise, a Bolero Master bred by Serge Nadeau. And the grandmother Look To Book has a lifetime record of 1.52.2 and over $267,000 on her papers. It’s all there.

Titanium Alpha, a son of He’s Watching, 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 8^th race Friday.

#2 Amaya pp1

Raised by Élisabeth Pothier and now entrusted to the Picard brothers, Amaya has a time of 2.05.2 achieved in a race of the Circuit Régional  at H3R.  The mother, Pearl Sweet Noc, is a mare that belongs to Elizabeth, whom she mated 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 pp2

Raised by Daniel Surprenant, now trained by Tony Valente, she wears the letters DGs that identify her well. She clocked a time of 2.06.2. It is a Shadow Play, mother 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 pp3

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 pp 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 pp 5

It is the only one of these starters that was bought in an auction (London) by the father-son duo Marc-André and Charles Cormier, They paid $6,000 for him as a yearling. The foal 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). It is a Sunshine Beach that Marc-André trains.

#7 Le Massif

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 at 2 years old. This mother is an Allamerican Native, who has a great career at stud farm. Pierre-Luc Roy will be at the guides.

 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 eighth race Preferred-Handicap Pace for the fillies and mares.

Feature is 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 4:00 pm. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

By Daniel Delisle, for the Quebec Jockey Club