This Friday, September 13th, is the final Friday twilight harness racing card of the season at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. After Fridayās 10-race card, the track will then race on Sundays only until the end of the race meet on November 24.
The last Friday card features a $6,500 Quebec-Bred Trot for four-year-old and older mares and horses and all but one of the horses entered (La Bromontoise) raced just five days ago at H3R in the Invitational Trot on Super Sunday.
And the winner of last Sundayās Invitational, Royalty Beer (Royalty For Life), is back for more on Friday.
The $140,000 winner this year, Royalty Beer starts from post six for driver Pascal Berube. The five-year-old gelding, a three-time winner this season, along with seven second place and four third place finishes, is the overwhelming morning line favorite after his impressive win last week.
Owned, bred and trained by Jean-Francois Maguire of Sainte-Marie, Que. Royalty Beer was at his best last week, leading from start to finish and winning in a romp by five and one-half lengths in 1:57.4. It was the 17th career win for the five-year-old gelding.
ROYALTY BEER REPLAY
According to Maguire, Royalty Beer will be here through the month of September and then head back to the USA to trainer-driver Patrick Lachance.
āHe will be here for a couple more weeks,ā Maguire said. āJust in time to have all the paperwork ready.ā
Second choice in the race from post five is Only For Justice for driver Francis Picard. Second to Royalty Beer last week, it was two starts back that Only For Justice beat rival Royalty Beer by a head in 1:57.3.
Other contenders in the race include Rose Run Why Not (post 4), Thats Hooligan (post 2), Frido PV (post 2) and La Bromontoise (post 1).
Post time on Friday is 4:00 pm. Coming up on Sunday at H3R is National Caretaker Appreciation Day, honoring all of the caretakers/grooms of the horses in our industry. For more information and free race programs, visit here.
by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club