Track record could be in jeopardy at Hippodrome 3R

With the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series starting at the Hippodrome 3R in Quebec on Friday (July 14), the track record for three-year-old trotters could very well be in jeopardy.

There are three divisions of the opening round, two for the colts and geldings and one for the fillies. After the three rounds of preliminary competition, the top eight point earners will return on Sunday, September 10 for their respective $65,000 finals.

All eyes will be on the gelding Kinnder Motown (Muscle Mass) in the third race, the first of the two $7,500 divisions for the trotting colts and geldings.

Unraced at age two, Kinnder Motown has made up for lost time at age three with three straight wins in just four starts in 2023 for trainer Isabelle Darveau and owner Rejean Lemieux of Quebec City, Quebec.

Bred by Denitza Petrova, Kinnder Motown is from the Ken Warkentin mare, Witch Way, making him a half brother to two top mares, Cindy Lynn (Credit Winner) 1:53.4 ($235,000) and Witches N Angels (Archangel) q, 1:57,3 ($76,000).

Kinnder Motown (post 2) comes into the race having won his last two starts both in 1:57.4 at Rideau Carleton by a total of 10 lengths for driver Robert Shepherd. He will start from post two and has already shown the early ability to be parked out and still able to wire the field.

The track record is 1:56.1 set by Cesar Durharas in 2019.

Kinnder Motown will not have it easy on Friday as he faces stiff competition from HP Joni Moni (International Moni) from post one for driver Pascal Berube. Also unraced at age two, HP Joni Moni ships to H3R from Woodbine Mohawk Park where was second by a nose in 1:56.2 and early this season won in 1:59.2 at Flamboro Downs.

Another contender will be Auguste (Bar Hopping) from post four for driver Jocelyn Gendron. This gelding just qualified at H3R, wiring the field in 2:01.

The second $7,500 colt division is the 7^th race where Timonier (Lookslikeachpndale) goes from post three for driver Jocelyn Gendron. Although winless in six starts this season, the Daniel Martin trainee has been racing at Mohawk Park and has been timed in 1:55 and 1:55.3 in his last two starts.

Last year Timonier was the two-year-old Quebec Championship winner at H3R.

Also in the field is BBC Sportsboy (Wheeling N Dealin), who just last week won his qualifier at H3R by more than 23 lengths in 1:59.1. Wolinak (Wheeling N Dealin) is another contender from post five for driver Robert Shepherd and wife/trainer Isabelle Darveau. Wolinak was just second in 2:00 at Kawartha Downs and prior has a win in 1:58.4 at Woodbine.

The fillies are in the spotlight in the $10,000 5^th race division where nine starters will go at it. The early favorite is Kenogami Courage (Lookslikechpndale) from post five for driver Stephane Brosseau. She shows a win at Georgia Downs in 2:00.4 and was race timed in her last start in 1:57.1. Other recent winners in the field include Sant Ambroggio (2:01), Duende (2:02.2), and Don’t Treat Me Bad (2:01.4).

First race post time on Friday is 4:00 pm. For a free race program, visit here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club