Marie-Claude Auger has favorites in H3R Stakes

Marie-Claude Auger is currently a solid second place in the harness racing driver standings at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec and may add to her win total Friday (July 26) as she is scheduled to drive the morning line favorites in both divisions of the Breeders Trophy Series.

This is the second of three preliminary rounds of the series for three-year-old trotters. The $65,000 finals take place on Super Sunday, September 8.

Auger has 28 wins so far in this race meet. Perennial driving champion Pascal Berube is in first place with 35 wins.

The first division of the Breeders Trophy Series is the 5^th race for the three-year-old trotting colts with a purse of $10,000. Captain PV (Wheeling N Dealin) is the morning line favorite from post two with Auger in the bike.

The duo is on a four-race winning streak at H3R for trainer Serge Nadeau, who co-owns the colt with the Y Corriveau Stable, Inc.

Auger has been able to win with Captain PV either on or off the pace this year. That wasn’t the case last year as Captain PV failed to hit the board in five starts.

“He was weak and immature last year,” trainer Serge Nadeau explained. “This winter, he gained muscle and weight. As for Friday, he had the flu this week and was a little sick but still ate very well. This colt has no faults. He is nice to handle everywhere, very calm and very hardworking.”

The track record for three-year-old trotting colts is 1:58.2 set by Lukes Pierre 21 years ago in 2003. With Captain PV already winning in 2:00, that record could fall by the wayside.

“Captain PV is much more mature this year,” Auger said. “He is trotting very well. I believe he could trot a mile under two minutes this year.”

Captain PV will face competition from return winner Paradise Moni (post 5) for driver Pascal Berube who scored their third win of the season last week with a 2:02 triumph.

Then in the very next 6^th race, $10,000 division for the fillies, Auger returns with race favorite Sensi Amnesia (Muscle Mass), who she not only drives, but also trains, bred the foal and co-owns with Catheline Pelletier.

Last year’s Quebec-Bred champion two-year-old, Sensi Amnesia is back to her winning ways, scoring in the opening round of the series last week with a seven-length romp in 1:59.3, a lifetime mark. She has two wins so far this season.

“She’s actually on a good streak,” Auger said. “And she should perform well. She’s feeling good, she’s ready for the series and she is trotting well.”

The track record for sophomore trotting fillies is 1:58 set by Stella Alpha in 2022. Is that within range for Sensi Amnesia?

“I think 1:58 flat is quite fast,” Auger added. “I’m not necessarily looking to break the track record, but we never know, anything is possible.”

Her competition comes from hopefuls Asrightasrain (post 1) with driver-trainer David Pilon, MVPs Daughter (post 3) for trainer-driver Jerome Lombart and HP Agathe (post 4) for driver Pascal Berube.

How does Auger feel to have the race favorites in both stakes’ races on Friday?

“It’s fun to have the race favorites,” Auger added. “The chances are better, but it creates more pressure.”

First race post time on Friday is 4:00 pm. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club