When Histoire Enchantee comes on the track for the tenth race Sunday at Hippodrome 3R, harness racing fans will see nearly a two-year gap in his racing schedule.
That is because the stakes winner at age three in 2017 has made a remarkable comeback for trainer Maxime Velaye. Histoire Enchantee starts from post one for driver Stephane Gendron and is the overwhelming race favourite in the tenth race pace.
As a three-year-old, Histoire Enchantee notched six wins with earnings of nearly $100,000. Then disaster struck the son of Shanghai Phil.
"Histoire Enchantee was injured with the results of a severe suspensory," explained Velaye. "To make matters worse, it was not even a race injury. He had to be stopped training and immobilized in his stall for about ten months. This is the kind of injury that heals slowly over time.
"After his successful season in 2017 at age three, we stopped with him as usual," continued Velaye. "Then we started again in the winter of 2017-2018 to be ready for the Quebec-Bred Series at age four. It was during this period that he was injured.
"Then we waited with him because this horse is worth it," Velaye said. "He also proved that we were right, since his return he continues to improve, winning regularly in the 1:56, 1:57 range. His fitness is improving and we are crossing our fingers to make it last. We do not have big plans for him this fall. He will probably race at 3R until closing and then rest up again. We will then prepare him for April next season for the Quebec-Bred Series. That's the best scenario right now."
Histoire Enchantee has most certainly been sharp in his comeback season this fall. He has four starts, two wins, the fastest last week in 1:56.4.
Bred to be a winner, Histoire Enchantee is owned and was bred by Guy Corbeil of Mirabel. He owns the top mare Eclatante (Bullvons Dream), who has had eight foals, seven of whom have made the races.
That makes Histoire Enchantee a full-brother to both Clik K ($378,476, 1.50.1); a half-brother to Advantage ($266,059, 1.51.1), and a full-brother to Eternal History ($171,216, 1.51.3).
Hoping for a an upset victory in the tenth race Sunday will be Captain Dragon (post two), Ernie Panic (post five), and Winoc Jimmy (post three).
The 11-race Sunday race card gets underway at 1:00 pm. For a free program, visit quebecjockeyclub.com. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)