Rivalries continue in Preferred Pace

Trois-Rivieres, QC – Rivalries are what have made harness racing the exciting sport it has been in North America for more than 200 years and on Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) the rivalries continue.

Since the beginning of the  race meet at H3R, Mickeymaksomespeed, Dreydl Hanover and Alittlebitaswagger have been going at each other in the Preferred-Handicapped Pace for the horses and the three standout performers go out it once again.

Despite a fifth-place finish last week against his two rivals, Dreydl Hanover is the 5/2 morning line favorite in the 7^th race co-feature on Sunday for  driver Samuel Fillion.

An eleven-year-old gelding by Cam’s Card Shark, Dreydl Hanover won the Preferred Pace the prior two weeks in a row, the fastest in 1:54, which was the fastest mile at H3R this season. He starts from post two for trainer Francis Richard.

Mickeymaksomespeed goes from post seven and last week he showed the ability to come from off the pace and won the Preferred Pace by a slim nose in 1:56. Prior to that the four-year-old stallion by Mickey Hanover, owned, bred and trained by Michel Allard, has won in 1:54.2 and has been second and third in this class. He will again be driven by Jonathan Lachance.

Alittlebitaswagger has only one win in the Preferred rivalry for owner-trainer Charles Gaudreault, a 1:55.2 score, but the nine-year-old Santanna Blue Chip gelding was also third by only a head last week to Mickeymaksomespeed. Prior to that he was second twice in this class. He will have Francis Picard in the sulky.

Rivalries are not just limited to the horses, but also to the mares as Fancy Girl, Sophies Cam and Y C Easy, all go head and head Sunday in the sixth race Preferred-Handicap Mares Pace.

Fancy Girl looms the favorite from post six for driver Francis Picard, having finished a game second by a neck on Friday to Platine Alpha. Sophies Cam (post 4) returns to the racing wars and was an eight-time winner last year. Y C Easy (post 7) has won in this class and was third twice and making her 2021 debut in the top race for the mares is Wild River Swan (post 8), who was a standout at H3R last season.

First race post time is 12:30 pm on Sunday. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

From the Quebec Jockey Club