Can the “Princess of Trot” continue her reign at H3R
At 0h06, on June 24, 2022 • By STEVEN WOLF
She has raced ten times so far in 2022 and each of those starts have been against older horses and mares and yet she continues to win.
Nicknamed the “Princess of Trot” at the Hippodrome 3R, Stella Alpha once again takes on older competition Friday in the $6,000 Preferred-Handicap Trot.
The three-year-old filly by Royalty For Life was the Quebec Bred Champion at age 2. She was bred and is owned by the Alpha Stable of Metabetchouan, which is run by Stella Alpha’s trainer, Sylvain Tremblay.
But every week when Stella Alpha races, it’s H3R leading dash winning driver, Pascal Berube, who sits behind the bay filly and guides her during each outing.
And so far, Berube has done well with Stella Alpha. She sports five wins, four of them at H3R.
“Stella was already doing very well at two years old,” Berube said. “But I think her desire to win is even stronger at 3 years old.
“I think that having to make her race with old horses could perhaps make her better mentally,” Berube added. “Because she has had to learn to be stronger and more courageous.”
For the 6th race feature on Friday, Stella Alpha was given as her handicap, the far outside post #8 position. Will that affect her performance this week? Last week she overcame racing in a driving rainstorm to win in a romp by nearly four lengths in 2:00.3.
“For this week’s start, it will be like all the other starts in recent weeks,” Berube added. “We don’t refuse anything but we don’t ask her to make an effort that she is not able to achieve. We let her do her job as she likes to do and we take what she gives us.
“She is a mare who likes to race ahead of the field,” Berube explained. “But she also likes to pass them too. I think she is just good any way that I drive her.”
Facing Stella Alpha in the feature trot will be Hall Win, another Quebec Bred Champion at age 3. He starts from post five for driver Kevin Maguire. Other contenders include Muscles Forever (post 3) and another mare in the field, EAU Naturelle (post 2).
Post time on Friday is 4:00 pm.
