Trotters in the limelight at Hippodrome 3R Sunday

The trotters are in the harness racing limelight Sunday afternoon (May 26) at the Hippodrome 3R in Quebec with a Preferred race featuring four return winners.

The morning line favorite is Only For Justice (Justice Hall) from post seven for driver Francis Picard in the 10^th race feature.

Only making four starts last season due to injury, Only For Justice is still the class of the field as the eight-year-old gelding sports career earnings of $563,294. He has not competed in a pari-mutuel race since he won at H3R last July in 1:57.4, his only win of the year.

Now well rested and ready to go for trainer Linda Belanger, Only For Justice competed in two qualifying races at H3R, winning both, the fastest in 2:00.2 where he won by more than seven lengths.

Second choice in the race is Kenogami Coco (Wheeling N Dealin) from the rail with driver Stephane Brosseau. He has returned from his winter break in peak form, winning his first start in a qualifying race scoring a six-length romp in 2:01.4.

Also coming off a victory in his first start back this year is Thats Hooligan (Rose Run Hooligan) from post five for driver Marie-Claude Auger. He won his first start back at H3R in 2:00, the fastest trotting mile so far this season.

Other contenders in the race include Orlys Pride (post 6), Muscles Forever (post 8) and Timonier (post 9).

The first top pace, only for the fillies and mares, takes place in the 4^th race.

Kiss Me Bad (Badlands Hanover) from post three for owner/driver Steven Gagnon, is the favorite and rightly so.

The eight-year-old mare has been racing against male rivals in the Preferred Pace, finishing third last week.

Also, in the race are returning winners NY Hardcore (post 5) and Shanghaiblueach en(post 6).

First race post time Sunday is at 12:00 noon. For more information and free programs, visit here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club