Prix d’Ete returns to H3R Sunday after four-year absences

The last time the prestigious Prix d’Ete for four-year-old harness racing pacers was held at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec was four years ago in 2019.

Driver Daniel Dube sent This Is The Plan right to the front, never looked back and won going away by three lengths in 1:49.1.

That clocking was the fastest mile ever at H3R, the fastest mile ever in the Prix d’Ete and the fastest half mile race in Canadian history, just missing the world record by a couple of ticks.

Then due to Covid in 2020 and the residual financial situation thereafter, the race was postponed until this Sunday afternoon (Aug. 18), as the Quebec Jockey Club brings back the Prix d’Ete for its 33rd edition.

The Prix d’Ete was first held in 1966 at Blue Bonnets Raceway in Montreal and was won by none other than the great Bret Hanover. At that time the purse was $50,000, making it the richest race ever held in Canada.

Since then, outstanding world champions including Albatross, Niatross, Cam Fella, Ralph Hanover and Matt’s Scooter (just to name a few) have won the Prix d’Ete. With a purse of C$200,000 this Sunday, it remains the richest horse race in all of the province of Quebec.

And coming to Quebec for the big race are m any of the top drivers in the sport, including some local heroes.

Daniel Dube, born and raised in Trois-Rivieres, will drive Act Fast from post two. Act Fast won just last week at Northfield Park’s half mile oval in 1:50.2 capturing the $100,000 Myron Charma Invitational.

Trained by Ron Burke, Act Fast races as an entry with stablemate Tip Top Cat (post 6) with local star Stephane Brosseau in the sulky. Burke can become the first trainer ever to win four Prix d’Ete’s. He is tied now at three wins with Billy Haughton.

Louis-Philippe Roy, who cut his teeth in the sport at H3R and the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit, drives El Rey from the rail for trainer Andrew Harris and two starts back won in 1:49.1.

“I believe it’s a wide-open field with many horses having a decent chance of winning,” LPR said. “Like anytime, post position is important on a half mile track, it might make the difference. I like our chances.”

Redwood Hanover (post 3) has Jonathan Drury in the sulky and in his last start he was second in 1:48.2 at Mohawk Park. Huntinthelastdolar (post 4) is the mild 5/2 favorite for driver Doug McNair and earlier this season won the $263,000 Charles Juravinski Pace at Flamboro Downs half mile in 1:50.

Post five is the winningest post at H3R this season and No Control with driver Jody Jamieson drew that post position. No Control prepped for the Prix d’Ete with a 1:53.3 qualifying win last week at Mohawk Park.

It’s My Show (post 7) is the class of the field and will be driven by James MacDonald. He is a career winner of $1.44 million, won the North America Cup and the Little Brown Jug last season for trainer Linda Toscano and in his last start he was second by a neck in 1:47.3 at The Meadowlands in the $220,000 Sam McKee Memorial.

Rounding out the field is Light The Torch (post 8), who will be driven by four-time reigning H3R driving champion, Pascal Berube. Light The Torch has five wins this season and a record of 1:53.2.

Five of the drivers in the Prix d’Ete are sitting behind horses they have never driven before. They are Act Fast (Daniel Dube), Tip Top Cat (Stephane Brosseau), El Rey (Louis-Philippe Roy), Huntinthelastdolar (Doug McNair) and It’s My Show (James MacDonald).

The Prix d’Ete is scheduled as the 10^th race of the 12-race program Sunday with an estimated post time of 3:00 pm.

In addition to the Prix d’Ete, H3R is also featuring the third and final preliminary round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacing colts and fillies.

A classic matchup takes place in the 5^th race first division of the series for the colts.

Boomboom Tonight (post 3) is the 5/2 favorite for driver Pascal Berube. He has won three of his last four starts, the fastest a 1:55 lifetime mark. He takes on Kinnder Reptile (post 5) with Marie-Claude Auger driving, who is on a four-race win streak for trainer Denitza Petrova, the fastest a 1:55.2 record mile. Other contenders include Olaf Du Lac (post 4) and Kinnder Kenogami (post 1).

First race post time on Prix d’Ete Day is 12:00 noon. For a free race program, visit here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club