Stakes season starts at Hippodrome 3R

Trois-Rivieres, QC – Sunday afternoon will kick-off the 2020 harness racing stakes season in Quebec with the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old pacers at the Hippodrome 3R.

There are three preliminary rounds of competition culminating with $65,000 finals on Sunday, September 27. The opening round Sunday has two divisions, two for colts and two for fillies.

The fillies get underway in the first race where Perfect Romi (post 5) is the morning line favorite despite being winless in four lifetime starts. The daughter of Perfect Union was a game second last week at Grand River Raceway, timed in 1:57.4. She was bred and is owned, trained and driven by Sylvain Lacaille of St-Paul-De-Joliette.

Perfect Romi will be taking on On Route (post 3) who has won her last two starts at H3R, YS Big Girl (post 2) and Lady D Morgan (post 7).

The third race second division for fillies features the impressive Zar E IP (post 1) for owner-trainer Pierre Leclerc of Louiseville. This daughter of Up The Credit was unraced at age two and is now making up for lost time. With Pascal Berube driving, Zar E IP sports four wins in six starts, the fastest a 1:56 lifetime mark just last week at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Her competition includes Lotus Sena (post 6), who two starts back won at H3R in 1:57.2, Acaena De Charkrika (post 4) and N C Rockabye (post 2).

The colts are featured in the fourth race by Mohawk Raceway invader, My Bettors Del (post 1), who despite being winless in seven starts this year, was third last week by only a neck in 1:51.4. The Bettors Delight homebred colt will be driven by Stephane Brosseau.

Unbeaten Mickeymaksomespeed (post 3) is unbeaten in six starts this year, the fastest a record 1:54 triumph at Rideau Carleton for breeders, owner, trainer Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit. Other retun winners in the field include Eclat De Rire (post 7) and Shanghaigold (post 2).

The seventh race second division for the colts is headlined by Retour Au Jeu (post 6), who is on a two-race winning streak for trainer Maxime Velaye and breeder-owner Guy Corbeil of Mirabel. The son of He’s Watching scored back-to-back 1:56 lifetime marks, winning from both on and off the pace.

Whitecookie (post 4), a 1:54.4 winner earlier this season for owner, trainer and driver Marie Claude Auger, comes into the series off a head loss in 1:51.4 at Mohawk last week. Other contenders include PLD Needy (post 2) and Kinnder Big Boss (post 7).

Track Notes: The Quebec Regional Fair Circuit took place at H3R Saturday afternoon. There were three amateur driving challenges won by Nancy Auger, Mathieu Desrochers and Roxanne Viau. Live racing resumes Sunday afternoon, first race post time is 1:00 pm. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.

From the Quebec Jockey Club