The trotters and pacers continued to prepare for next Sunday, April 30 -- the opening card of the 2023 season at Hippodrome 3R -- by racing in eight qualifiers on Saturday (April 22).
The leading driver at H3R for the last few years, Pascal Berube, drove the fastest qualifying winner, the four-year-old State Treasurer gelding Delicate Sound, setting the pace then coming home in :28.4 to win in 1:59.3 for trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau and the ownership of Aurel Harvey Et Fils Inc. Delicate Sound had 10 victories during 2022 and was undefeated in three starts over the local oval.
The fastest trot qualifying winner was Morally Flexible, a seven-year-old gelded son of Break The Bank K who sat second behind pacesetter Keepall then passed that one in the stretch to stop the timer in 2:02.4. Stephane Brosseau drove the career winner of 13 races and more than $200,000 for trainer/owner Daniel Theroux.
There were no repeat winners during the eight qualifiers on either the driving or training side.
The first card of the campaign in Trois Rivières, Que. will begin at 12 noon next Sunday. There will be racing on Sundays during May as well and beyond, with the addition of Friday twilight racing at 4 p.m. scheduled to start on June 9.
To view Saturday's complete qualifying results, click the following link: Saturday Results (Qualifiers) - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)