More than just the Prix d’Ete weekend at H3R

The headliner this weekend at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) is Sunday’s return of the C$200,000 Prix d’Ete for four-year-old harness racing pacers, but while the Grand Circuit event has drawn top horses and drivers, there is plenty other stakes action this weekend at the half-mile oval in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

Friday’s card begins at 4:00 pm and will feature the third round of the Breeders Trophy Series for Quebec-Bred three-year-old trotting colts and fillies. After Friday’s round the top eight point earners will return on Super Sunday, September 8 for their respective C$65,000 finals.

The 6^th race first $10,000 division for the trotting colts features a classic match-up between rivals Captain PV (Wheeling N Dealin), who is on a five-race winning streak going again against Wild Dream Men (Kadabra).

Captain PV has been sensational for driver Marie-Claude Auger with five wins in eight starts this year. The colt wired the field in the series last time out with a two and one-half length score in a lifetime best 1:59.2. He is trained and co-owned by Serge Nadeau with the Y Corriveau Stable. He starts from post five.

Wild Dream Men goes from post three for driver-trainer Guy Gagnon. He won his last start at Rideau Carleton in 1:59.4 for owners Catheline Pelletier and Chantel Gravel. He has faced Captain PV twice, finishing second both times.

Other competitors in the race include Paradise Moni (post 7) with driver Denis St Pierre and Last Try (post 9) for trainer-driver Jerome Lombart.

The filly trotters go in race 9 where MVPs Daughter (My MVP) goes from post two for driver-trainer Jerome Lombart. She is on a two-race win streak, taking a record in the series of 2:00.2.

Sensi America (Muscle Mass), bred and co-owned, trained and driven by Marie-Claude Auger looks to rebound from post four after suffering a 5^th place finish in her last start.

Also entered off victories are HP Agathe (post 1) in 2:02 and Cleomax Duharas (post 7) for driver Loic Gueriel who won in a romp at Rideau Carleton in a lifetime best 1:59.4.

Sunday’s undercard has three divisions of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old colt and filly pacers.

The colts battle in two divisions with the stronger one the 5^th race where two sons of Sportswriter, Boomboom Tonight (post 3) takes on Kinnder Reptile (post 5).

Boomboom Tonight has won three of his last four starts for driver Pascal Berube and looks to sweep the preliminary rounds, the fastest a 1:55 lifetime mark.

They face for the first time Kinnder Reptile, who is on a four-race winning streak and has won six of his eight starts this year. He will be driven by Marie-Claude Auger for trainer-owner-breeder Denitza Petrova.

Other contenders include Kinnder Kenogami (post 1), Olaf Du Lac (post 4) and Classic Jim (post 6).

The 2^nd race first division features G A Speed Expert (Sportswriter) in post seven who is coming off a 1:56.4 lifetime mark in his last start. They take on HP Coaticook (post 2) and Dan Speed (post 4).

The fillies do battle in the 7^th race where local star Wicked Discovery (McWicked) puts her three-race winning streak on the line from post three for driver Pascal Berube. Her fastest win was a 1:58.1 lifetime mark.

All eyes will be on One More Bet (post five) for driver Daniel Dube. This All Bets Off filly won a division of the series last month in 1:57 for trainer Jean Tourigny and since then sizzled in a 1:51.3 record at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The final driver changes and morning line odds have been completed for the $200,000 Prix d’Ete on Sunday.

HD   Post   Name   Sire   Driver  Trainer   M/L Odds

1       (pp2) ACT FAST (Downbytheseaside)  Daniel Dube – Ron Burke 3-1

1A    (pp6) TIP TOP CAT (Always B Miki) Stephane Brosseau – Ron Burke  3-1

2       (pp1) EL REY (Captaintreacherous)  Louis-Philippe Roy – Andrew Harris 4-1

3        (pp3) REDWOOD HANOVER (Stay Hungry) Jonathan Drury – Anthony Beaton  6-1

4       (pp4) Huntingthelastdolar (Huntsville) Doug McNair – Per Engblom  5/2

5       (pp5) NO CONTROL (Control The Moment)  Jody Jamieson  – Tan Micallef  5-1

6        (pp7) IT’S MY SHOW (Sweet Lou) James MacDonald – Linda Toscano  7/2

7       (pp8) LIGHT THE TORCH (Always B Miki) Pascal Berube – Marc-Andre Simoneau 10-1

Friday post time for the twilight card is 4:00 pm and Sunday’s Prix d’Ete program begins at 12:00 noon. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club