While it is tough enough for any two-year-old harness racing horse to make it to the races in their first season, how about having to race against older horses too?
That will be the scenario at the Hippodrome 3R come this Sunday (October 2) when Reposession, an aptly named son of Foreclosure N, takes on a field of seven older rivals in the second race pace.
Sired in Ohio, Reposession started off his career in that state, competing early on in the rich Sire Stakes program. In his first four starts, going for an average purse of $40,000 (US), he did not fare well with just one fourth-place finish. The rest of the time he was no better than eighth-place.
Since coming to Quebec, Reposession has found new life and last week rewarded trainer Yves Tessier and driver Stephane Gendron with his first victory. It was an impressive mile for the youngster, who led from start to finish by two and one-quarter lengths in 2:00.2 racing against only two-year-olds.
Seems that Reposession raced well enough that on Sunday he will face seven older horses and with any improvement off last week’s mile, could very well beat them all. Reposession will start from the rail post position, which is only fair being the only two-year-old in the field, and he will be driven again by Gendron.
“I like everything that this foal does,” Gendron said. “He seems to do it well like an older horse.
“I think he can repeat same win as last week and maybe go a little faster,” Gendron added. “He is still a little green, but it was very good driving him for the first time. He should be able to improve enough off last week’s victory to win again.”
The race favourite is Dream Of Mattjesty from post seven for driver Pascal Berube. The four-year-old gelding by Royal Mattjesty only has one win in 16 starts this year for trainer Isabelle Binet, but prior lines show he has the speed to be a winner in here.
So will Reposession be run over by his older rivals? We will have to wait until Sunday and see.
The battle continues at the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday to see who will emerge this season as the winningest horse of the year. The three leaders, each with six wins this season, are St Kitts, Bali and Beach Runner A M, but they are not racing this Sunday, which opens the door to a few other trotters and pacers to gain ground on the leaders.
Matts Phil could even tie the leaders at six wins each if he can overcome starting from post eight in the fifth race pace. He posted his fifth win of the year last week for driver Francis Picard with an impressive 1:58.4 score, also from post eight. This week, he faces return winner Chaleurs Fantasy (post five), who won in 1:58, D J Power (post four), who had broken equipment last week but the prior week scored at 3R in 1:57.2, and Trys Little Prince (post two), who is always in contention.
On the trotting side, Brise Du Large, who starts from post five and is the favourite in Sunday's third race for driver Mario Charron, has three wins at 3R this season. This seven-year-old mare by Justice Hall led from start to finish last week and looked very strong for trainer Noel Ferland ,and could join the hunt towards being the winningest horse this season if she can score in here. Also entered is Le Millenaire, who just qualified at 3R but prior won two straight races on the Quebec Fair Circuit for trainer Serge Nadeau.
Post time Sunday is 1:30 p.m. For a free race program, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from QJC)