Atomic Million AM, winner of 11 races in 2014 as a three-year-old including the divisional Quebec-Bred Series Final, will make his return to the Hippodrome 3R on Sunday in the opening round of this year's $125,000 Quebec-Bred Series for four and five-year-old pacers.
The series features three weeks of elimination competition, culminating with the $35,000 finals on Sunday, June 14.
A four-year-old gelded son of Million Dollar Cam, Atomic Million AM won over $110,000 last year -- a decent size portion of that coming in this series. In 2014, he also took a lifetime mark of 1:50.3 at Mohawk Racetrack in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Championship. He is owned and trained by Alain Martin of Gatineau, Que.
Atomic Million AM heads the fifth race, older horse division and starts from post three for driver Sylvain Lacaille. So far in 2015, Atomic Million AM has been razor sharp with two wins and two seconds in his four starts. He is the morning line favourite in the race at odds of 5-2. Other contenders include My Lucky Bluejeans (post two, 7-2) and Victor Bayama (post eight, 3-1).
The first of two Quebec-Bred Series opening divisions for the mares is the second race, which features Victoria Semalu in post four as the 5-2 morning line favourite. Unraced last year, this five-year-old mare has come about for trainer Dany Fontaine and Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. of Montreal, Que. Just three weeks ago, she took her record with a 1:53.4 triumph at Rideau Carleton Raceway. She will be driven by Stephane Brosseau and faces stiff competition from Lutetia Semalu (post six, 3-1) and Canbec Lindor (post two, 7-2).
In the sixth race, second division for the mares, the 5-2 race favourite is Champagne Shower, who is coming off a lifetime mark of 1:52.1 at Mohawk Racetrack and has won two of her last three starts. A four-year-old mare by Santanna Blue Chip, Champagne Shower starts from post five with Denis St Pierre driving for trainer Yves Tessier and owner/breeder Sotirios Anastasopoulos of Sainte-Therese, Que. Her rivals include Cyndalianne Duc (post two, 3-1), Chaleurs Fantasy (post six, 4-1) and Tango Bayama (post seven, 7-2).
First race post time for Sunday's harness racing card is 1:30 p.m.
(With files from QJC)