Louis-Philippe Roy to drive at H3R on Sunday

Harness racing driver Louis-Philippe Roy is scheduled to drive the undefeated three-year-old pacing colt, Nijinsky, in the $650,000 final of the Meadowlands Pace Saturday night (July 13) at The Meadowlands.

And where will Roy be going after his drive in the major Grand Circuit race? Right back to his racing roots at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, where on Sunday afternoon (July 14) he will drive his two pacers in the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series.

This is the opening round of the series for Quebec-bred three-year-old pacing colts and fillies. There are three preliminary rounds and then on Sunday, September 8, the $65,000 finals for the top eight point earners.

A three-time O’Brien Award winning driver, Roy is now traveling on the Grand Circuit where he is achieving great success, but when he can, he always likes to come back home to H3R.

“I have an early morning flight tomorrow,” Roy said. “6:30 am flight. Being already on the road, I thought I could make a stop in Quebec to see my parents and drive our two homebreds at the same time.

“I wanted to make sure to have good time with my parents,” Roy explained about not driving in any other races on Sunday. I’m often very busy when I come back to H3R and I wanted to make it different this time. I’m sorry for the trainers and owners that wished I could drive their horses but I’m sure they understand.”

First up for Roy will be his filly Ronda Du Lac (Shadow Play) in the 6^th race second $7,500 division of the Breeders Trophy Series. Roy co-owns her with Maude Larouche, Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire and was bred by Roy. Last year the filly won the Lucien Bombardier Pace with three wins on the season.

She is the lone return winner in the field and starts from post 6. In her last start, Roy’s older brother, Pierre-Luc Roy, drove Ronda Du Lac to a 1:59.3 victory, her first of the season.

Her main rivals in the race include two Ontario invaders in One More Bet (post 1) for driver Jocelyn Gendron and YS Flowernumberten (post 3) with driver Pascal Berube.

The 4^th race is the first Breeders Trophy Series leg for the fillies and features D Gs Lorijeanne (post 1) for driver Jonathan Lachance taking on Shes Rock (post 6) with driver Robert Shepherd and Amour (post 4) for driver Stephane Brosseau.

Then in the 8^th race, the first division of the Breeders Trophy Series for the colts, Olaf Du Lac (Sportswriter) goes from post 4 for Roy.  The three-year-old gelding was bred by Roy, whom he co-owns with his brother, Pierre-Luc Roy, and Maude Larouche and Jean Allaire.

Olaf Du Lac has two wins this year, the fastest a lifetime mark at Woodbine Mohawk Park where Roy drove him to a nose victory in 1:52.3.

His competition in the race is the race favorite Gladiator S BG from post seven for driver Pascal Berube. He is shipping in from Grand River Raceway where he has won four times with a record mile of 1:53.2. Also, in the field are two return winners at H3R, Ambitious Mind (post 1), a 1:58.3 winner and Delgero (post 6), a 1:57.3 winner.

The second $7,500 division for the colts is the 9^th race where Boomboom Tonight (post 4) takes on Kinnder Reptile (post 6).

In his last start, Boomboom Tonight took a lifetime mark of 1:55 for driver Pascal Berube. Last year’s two-year-old Quebec Champion, Boomboom Tonight scored 5 wins in 7 starts last season.

Also featured is Kinnder Reptile (post 6) for driver Marie-Claude Auger. Unraced at age 2, Kinnder Reptile has won three of his last four starts, the fastest in 1:57.1.

First race post time on Sunday is 12:00 noon. For a free race program, visit here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club