Hippodrome 3R will add live harness racing on Friday nights beginning this week. First-race post time will be at 7:00 p.m. and an eight-race program will be on tap this week.
Something unique will take place this Friday in the very first race, as ten-year-old pacing mare Persistent will return to racing after having been a broodmare since 2014.
Persistent will start from Post 1 in the first race for driver Stephen Gendron and owner/trainer Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit. Michel is the father of Rene and Simon Allard.
Persistent was a good raceway mare back in the day. She competed regularly at both Harrah’s Philadelphia and Yonkers Raceway, banked more than $226,000 in lifetime earnings, and took a race record of 1:50.2 at Philly.
The daughter of Western Ideal also did well as a broodmare. Her very first foal, a filly by Bettors Delight named Persistent Bettor, has taken a record of 1:54 with earnings of $42,853. The next foal was a full sister named Persistent Xample, who won a qualifier in 1:57. There are two other foals, one is a two-year-old, the other just a yearling.
According to Michel, "She should be very comfortable on the track at Trois-Rivières and she seems to have rediscovered, after all these years off, the pleasure of competing.”
Upvote Hanover, fresh off his impressive triumph last week, will return to headline the Preferred-Handicap Trot (Race 7). The five-year-old Kadabra gelding will start from the outside Post 8.
Last week Upvote Hanover was at his best for regular driver Stephane Brosseau. He got parked out first-over for half the mile and still had enough kick to pull away from the field. He has now won two of his last three starts for trainer Yves Tessier and owner Francois Morin of Beauceville.
Other contenders in the race include Rocky Boy (Post 7), Wildwild Men (Post 6) and Holiday Party (Post 5).
For a free race program or additional information, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at H3R, click the following link: Friday Entries – Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)