An invader targets the Trois-Rivières oval on Sunday
At 0h46, on May 22, 2026 • By Laurent Sauvé
With a strong field of nine pacers non-winners of $5,000 in their last five starts, the 10th race on Sunday’s card at the Hippodrome Trois-Rivières promises plenty of excitement. And who knows — could we witness the fastest mile of the season so far?
Ontario invader Pyreneens Hanover will make his Quebec debut as a five-year-old, leaving from post seven with Marie-Claude Auger in the bike. Claimed on March 14 for $15,000 by Charles, Maxim and Daniel Gaudreault, the son of American Ideal has been firing on all cylinders at Flamboro Downs with two consecutive victories, the latest coming in 1:53.4.
His main rival, Bets Beach, will start from post nine for Pascal Bérubé and will attempt to record a second straight victory. Last week, the Yves Tessier trainee wired the field in 1:58.2. Bets Beach is a son of All Bets Off, winner of the 2015 Prix d’Été in 1:50.3, which at the time equaled the record set the previous year by Sunfire Blue Chip. While that mark still stands among older stallions, the all-time Trois-Rivières record belongs to the gelding This Is The Plan thanks to a 1:49.1 performance.
The track’s seasonal speed-record holder, Kingston Panic, will also be in action and will leave from post two with Simon Delisle in the bike. Fans will remember that last Sunday, Kingston Panic unleashed an impressive move down the backstretch to seize command and pace away to victory. The Alexane Laroche trainee crossed the wire with a comfortable margin of more than 14 lengths in 1:56.2.
Earlier on the card, in a race of the same class but reserved for trotters, the veteran Yes will return to action after a week off and will likely be ready to face an opposition that includes Timonier, winner of his latest start in 2:00.3, as well as Rose Run Why Not. It will be the second race on a program with first post at noon.
