The 2022 stakes season gets underway at Hippodrome 3R on Friday, July 15 with the start of the Breeders Trophy Series for three-year-old trotters.
A pair of $10,000 opening round legs for the colts and the fillies will be featured. There are a total of three preliminary rounds with the top eight point earners returning to 3R on Sunday, Sept. 11 for their respective $60,000 finals.
The first division for three-year-old trotting colts is the third race that includes last year's Quebec two-year-old champion Royalty Beer (sired by Royalty For Life) starting from post seven for driver Kevin Maguire and his Ecuries Maguire. The gelding is co-owned and trained by cousin Jean-Francois Maguire.
Last year, Royalty Beer won four of his five starts including the $50,000 Quebec-Bred Championship final, but 2022 has seen him win just once in six starts. That victory was three starts back in May with a lifetime-best effort in 1:59.2 at 3R.
Royalty Beer races as an entry with stablemate Cleveland Massimo, who starts from post two for driver Robert Shepherd. He also has six starts this year and but one win, a 2:01 lifetime mark at H3R.
Kenogami Rebel (post five) is coming off a winning performance at Rideau Carleton Raceway last time out for trainer Daniel Martin, who co-owns the Archangel gelding with Dominique Michel and Marie-Claude Reid.
While win less at age two, Kenogami Rebel sports two triumphs so far in 2022, the fastest a 1:57.1 mark taken at Rideau Carleton where he ships to 3R from. In his last start on June 30, he was parked out first-over and still was able to come on to win by a nose in 1:58. He will again be driven by Stephane Brosseau.
Other contenders in the field include the Martin-trained morning line favourite Sammy Justice (post one), who has three wins this season at 3R -- two in his last three starts in rein to driver Pascal Berube for owner Jean Berthiaume; an entry of Orlys Shadow (post four) and Orlys Flight (post six) for trainer Normand Beaudoin and owner Orlando Stables; and Pier Ho Crazy JP (post three) for trainer Normand Normandin.
The fillies will battle in their $10,000 first leg in the sixth race where Stella Alpha (post one), the "Princess of Trot" at 3R, will be looking to defend her title from last season.
The Royalty For Life filly was the Quebec champion last year and this season sports six wins already for trainer Sylvain Tremblay and his Ecurie Alpha. In her last start, Stella Alpha set the divisional track record at 3R with a 1:58 triumph racing against Preferred competition and has won three of her last four starts at 3R in rein to Pascal Berube.
But it will not be a walk in the park for Stella Alpha as she faces some stiff competition from HP Felicity (post two) and La Bromontoise (post four).
HP Felicity gave notice last week at 3R that she is ready for action for trainer Isabelle Darveau and husband/driver Robert Shepherd. The filly wired the field in a lifetime best mile of 1:59 for her first win in just two starts this year for owners/breeders Claude Hamel and Michel Damphousse.
Another consistent performer is La Bromontoise for breeder, owner and driver Jerome Lombart. The Angus Hall-Promising Lavec filly is a half sister to Quebec greats Lucky Promesses and a full sister to X O X O. La Bromontoise has been racing at Grand River Raceway where she was second by a head last start in 2:01.1 and the prior start a winner in 2:02.3.
Completing the field are El Gio (post three) and Crazy Lilly (post five).
There are two $6,000 Preferred Handicap sub-features on the Friday race card.
The pacing mares battle in the fourth race headlined by Sophies Cam (post seven), Outrageous Song (post eight) and Platine Alpha (post one).
The trotters will fight it out in the fifth race where Bonfire Bash (post one) goes for his third straight win for driver Francis Picard against newcomer Texaco Man (post eight), who was second by a neck last start at Grand River in 1:55.3.
The three-year-old pacers compete in the opening round of the Breeders Trophy Series on Sunday at 3R with three divisions.
First race post time on Friday is 4 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)