Trotters in Quebec-Bred opening round Friday
At 0h03, on June 16, 2023 • By STEVEN WOLF
The opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for trotters age four and older take place at the Hippodrome 3R Friday (June 16) afternoon with two divisions of the series.
Due to a shortage of mares entered in the first round, the mares will race against the older horses, but got to draw for the inside post positions.
The first division is the 4th race on the card features Woodbine Mohawk Park invader Only For Justice (Justice Hill), who starts from post six for driver Robert Shepherd. The seven-year-old gelding is making his first start of the 2023 season. Last year he won five times, the fastest a 1:54.1 triumph. He is owned and was bred by Gaetan Bono Inc. of Quebec.
One of the two mares in the field is former Quebec Champion Stella Alpha (Royalty For Life) from post two for driver Pascal Berube. Sylvain Tremblay trains and his Alpha Stable owns the four-year-old mare, who is affectionately known as the Princess Of Trot at H3R, was an 11-race winner last year.
In her last start at H3R, Stella Alpha was parked out first-over against older horses and hung on to win by a nose in 1:59.2.
Also in the race is last year’s three-year-old Quebec Champion, Royalty Beer, from post three for driver Kevin Maguire. He is shipping back to H3R after racing this season at Woodbine Mohawk Park, taking a lifetime mark three starts back in 1:54. He is trained by Maguire and co-owned and bred by the Maguire Stable and Jean-Francois Maguire.
The 8th race second division has a classic match-up between four return winners, Capteur De Reve (Muscle Mass), Frido PV (Muscle Mass), Orlys Shadow (Lindys Tru Grit) and CM Savewill GL (Muscle Mass).
Capteur De Reve is a four-time Quebec Champion and goes from post four for driver Stephane Brosseau. He is currently undefeated in two starts for trainer Maxime Velaye and the Provoquante Stable of Mirabel. Frido PV (post 5) has won three of his four starts this year, scoring last week in 1:59 by four lengths and will be driven again by Jonathan Lachance.
Orlys Shadow (post 7) was winless last year making only four starts before being away for nearly a year. He has returned in form, winning his first start back last week, wiring the field in 2:01.2, last quarter in :29.1, which was his maiden victory. SM Savewill (post 3) shipped in from Flamboro Downs last week and scored in 2:01 for driver Pascal Berube.
Completing the field include former Quebec Champion Seeyou Men (post 6), Sammy Justice (post 8) and the two mares in the race, X O X O (post 1) and Lune Duharas (post 2).
First race post time for Friday’s twilight race card is 4:00 pm. On Sunday, H3R hosts three divisions of the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older horses with three divisions, one for the mares and two for the horses.
