The trotters own the spotlight at the Hippodrome 3R Tuesday with the opening round of the $220,000 Breeders Cup series for three-year-olds.
And taking center stage will be last year’s colt champion, Capteur De Reve (Dream Catcher in English), who starts from post five in the fifth race.
Trained by Maxime Velaye for the Provoquante Stable, who owns and bred Capteur De Reve, the son of Muscle Mass is primed and ready to have another big season.
“He (Capteur De Reve) did fill out a bit over the winter,” said trainer Maxime Velaye. “But pretty much looks the same as last year.”
Last year, Capteur De Reve did very well in the Future Stars Series at H3R. He captured an elimination division and was second in another, but was at his best in the C$65,000 final, winning with ease by two and three-quarter lengths.
Capteur De Reve has had tough in his first two starts this year, having to race in the Invitational Trot at H3R against older horses. He has been forth both times, but his trainer Maxime Velaye is OK with that.
“It is not easy to race a three-year-old against older horses,” Velaye said. “But at least he did have some starts before the series begin and I was OK with it, but the last start I was expecting a better performance especially they only went 2:00.
“I am confident that he will race good on Tuesday,” Velaye explained.
“It’s not going to be easy. I see some of the horses improved a lot from last year, but my horse will be ready for the fight, and think he get the job done on Tuesday.”
Capteur De Reve’s main rival will be Sometimes When in post two for driver Guy Gagnon. Also sired by Muscle Mass, Sometimes When has been second in his last two starts at Rideau Carleton, the fastest a neck loss in 1:58. Sometimes When was second to Capteur De Reve last year in the Future Stars Final.
Other contenders include Bastiano (post six) and Kinnder Dangerous (post one).
The trotting fillies are in the limelight in the seventh race, headed by HP Run Like Mom in post five for driver Stephane Brosseau.
Unraced at age two, HP Run Like Mom has found her winning ways as of late for trainer Jean Tourigny, and is on a two-race winning streak. She is sired by Kadabra and is bred and co-owned by Claude Hamel of Ayer’s Cliff with Michel Damphousse of Louisville.
In her last start, HP Run Like Mom, won by the entire length of the home stretch, the official margin was 19-1/4 lengths in 2:00.4.
Her main rivals in the race will be Affirmee (post four) and the entry from trainer Daniel Martin of Muscle Do (post two) and Moskido (post three).
Post time Tuesday evening is 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
(Quebec Jockey Club)