National Debt returns to favorite track

Trois-Rivieres, QC – National Debt (Allamerican Native) is a $712,838 career winning harness racing Standardbred horse who has competed both in Canada and the United State with a lot of success, but one track in particular, the Hippodrome 3R, is his favorite and on Sunday he is the favorite in the Preferred-Handicap Pace.

Because National Debt has always done well at H3R, including winning in this class two starts back in 1:55.4, the race office let him have the outside post 8 in the 8^th race feature.

Now age 11, the gelding comes into the race having made just 11 starts at H3R over the past ten years. What makes H3R his favorite track is that in those 11 starts he won 7 times, was second 2 times and third once. The other start was a 4^th place finish. Pretty amazing stats.

National Debt comes into H3R having started last week at Rideau Carleton where he was a game third place finisher, missing the win by three-quarters of a length in a swift 1:51.2.

On Sunday he will have regular reinsman Pascal Berube in the sulky. National Debt is trained by Yves Tessier for owner Francois Morin of Beauceville. He is listed as the 5/2 morning line favorite.

But this week it may not be too easy for National Debt as he faces formidable foes in Mickeymaksomespeed (post 7), who last week took the lead after the first quarter and wired the field for driver Kiwon Waldron in 1:55 for their first win this year after two second place finishes. Mickeymaksomespeed was bred and is owned and trained by Michel Allard.

Another contender is Menlo Park (Post 6) who enters the race off a wire-to-wire 1:55.3 score and will again be driven by Stephane Brosseau for owner-trainer Jean-Francois Reid.

The 7^th race Preferred-Handicap Trot features the return of Quebec-bred champion Stella Alpha (post 6), who is the lone filly against older horses and mares. She is on a two-race win streak, scoring both times at H3R in 2:00.

Stella Alpha takes on XOXO (post 7), who was sold after her last start and will be driven for the first time by Kiwon Waldron. Also in the field is return winner Libero Hanover (post 8), who is moving up in class off a 2:00 triumph last week.

Another Alpha horse, Platine Alpha (post 8), heads the 5^th race Mares Preferred Pace. She is coming off a tough nose triumph last week in 1:58. She takes on Le Petite Grise (post 9 second tier) who has won her last two starts, the fastest a 1:57 win.

Post time on Sunday at H3R is 12:00 noon. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

By Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club