2YOs make debuts at Hippodrome 3R

Trois-Rivieres, QC – It’s that time of year when the two-year-olds begin to make their pari-mutuel harness racing debuts across the nation and at the Hippodrome 3R.

On Sunday, July 10, the 3^rd race features a field of nine two-year-old colt and filly pacers, actually two colts and seven fillies will go behind the starting gate.

The morning line favorite is an entry from the stable of Daniel Dulude and owner-breeder Bruno Lepage of Beauharnois of Got Beach Body (He’s Watching) and Got Lucky Watching (He’s Watching).

Got Beach Body is the stronger part of the entry and starts from post two for driver Jonathan Lachance. In her last qualifier at Rideau Carleton Raceway, she finished fourth and was race-timed in 2:01. She is the second foal from the top Somebeachsome mare Nip’s Beach Girl, a 1:52 winner of $163,562.

Got Lucky Watching goes from post four for driver Daniel Dulude and was timed in 2:06 in his only qualifier.

H3R’s leading trainer, Sylvain Tremblay, has two of his homebreds in the race. They are the filly, Neptune Alpha (Control The Moment) and a colt, Albert Alpha (He’s Watching).

Both youngsters were second in their last qualifiers over a sloppy track at H3R with a three second allowance.

The two-year-old to watch in the race is River Sena (Windfall Blue Chip) in post 1. She is a filly for co-owner, trainer and breeder, Serge Nadeau of Scott. She won both of her qualifiers at H3R, leading from start to finish and will be driven by Mario Lachance.

Completing the field are Godiva Shadow Girl (Shadow Play) post 3, GA Speed Matrix (Windfall Blue Chip) post 5, Vent Du Sud (Leader Bayama) post 7 and Ellenski (Sportswriter) in post nine.

La Petite Grise (Sportswriter), the top pacing mare at H3R this season, goes for her sixth win of the season at H3R Sunday in the 2^nd race Preferred-Handicap Pace for the mares. She is tied now with Windsun Cheyenne and Platine Alpha, each with five wins, as the winningest horses at H3R this season.

Pascal Berube will, as always, drive La Petite Grise, who starts from post seven and is going for her third straight win.

The top horses do battle in the 9^th race Preferred-Handicap Pace with D Gs De Vito (Sportswriter) the horse to beat.

The last two weeks D Gs De Vito has been at his best. In his last start he became the fastest horse at H3R this year, romping by five and a half lengths in 1:52.1. It was a lifetime mark for D Gs De Vito and his third win on the season. He will be driven by Jonathan Lachance.

Another return winner in the field from last week’s top pace is Spectrum Seelster (Mach Three) from post one for driver Francis Picard. They led from start to finish in 1:55.1.

First race post time Sunday is 12:00 noon at H3R. For a free race program, click here.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club