Trois-Rivieres, QC – Harness racing trainer Maxime Velaye will try and achieve a training feat not done at all this season at the Hippodrome 3R. That is to send out the winner in both the Preferred Trot and Pace features on Sunday afternoon.
Velaye's first opportunity is his best one as he sends out the race favorite, Capteur De Reve, in the third race Preferred Trot.
The only trotter ever to win four Quebec-Bred Championship starts again from the rail. It was last week that Capteur De Reve was able to lead from start to finish over a sloppy H3R track to win in 2:03.1.
"He (Capteur De Reve) only knows H3R as the only half mile he has ever raced on," Velaye said. "He is versatile and can handle any size track, but he likes H3R the best."
It was the sixth win this year for the five-year-old gelded son of Muscle Mass and a far cry from his record of 1:55.1 this season for the Provoquante Stable of Mirabel, who bred and owns the top trotter.
Former track record holder and Quebec Champion, Seeyou Men (post four) will try again to defeat Capteur De Reve. Last week with driver Francis Picard, Seeyou Men was a game second after coming first-over again Capteur De Reve.
Also entered is Volare (post 2), who nearly took the lead away from Capteur De Reve last week, but made a costly break at the opening quarter mile. Completing the field are two top mares, Missionoftheheart (post 5) and Talbotcreek Suzie (post 3), who is moving up in class after winning the Preferred III class last week.
Velaye then sends out the former stake's winner Histoire Enchantee, also from the rail, in the seventh race Preferred Pace.
This five-year-old gelding by Shanghai Phil won nearly $100,000 at age 3 before injuring himself and now two years later has come back for Velaye in winning form with three wins, the fastest in 1:56.4.
"I am so happy with how he has come back to the races," Veyale said. "I think we will race both of them a few more times after the end of the season here and then give them a nice rest for the winter."
It will be a challenge for Histoire Enchantee has he takes on last week's winner, Surf Report (post 2), who led from start to finish on the sloppy track last week in 2:00.1 (four second allowance). He will have Tyler Jones back in the sulky again.
The morning line favorite is National Debt (post six), who has done most of his racing this season at Rideau Carleton Raceway for trainer Yves Tessier and driver Pascal Berube. National Debt has done very well again in 2019 with an impressive 13 wins and has won three of his last four starts and has a record of 1:51.4.
Return winners in the field include Hooter Shooter (post 5) for driver Francis Picard and Maracasso (post 4) for trainer/driver Carol Voyer and rounding out the field is Abbleby Hanover (post 3).
The 11-race program on Sunday starts at 1:00 pm. This is the second to last live race program at H3R before the end of the 2019 race season.
Next week on closing day the track will honor the leading Driver and Trainer of the race meet along with a special blanket presentation to Chinnys Wings, who is 14-year-olds and will be retiring from racing come January 1, 2020 when he turns age 15.
For more information, a free race program and to watch the H3R races live via the internet, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club