Trois-Rivieres, QC – The class of the field and three-time Quebec Series Champion, Atomic Million AM, heads one of the four opening round harness racing divisions of the $267,000 Quebec-Bred Series at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday afternoon.
A big change for the series this year is that the series is now open to pacers and trotters ages four and older. Prior to that the series was only open to four and five-year-olds. After three preliminary rounds, the top eight point earners will race in $30,000 finals on Sunday, July 14.
Atomic Million AM drew the rail in the second race, the first of two divisions for older horses. With three championships already under his belt, the eight-year-old gelding by Million Dollar Cam is the odds-on favorite to sweep the series and become perhaps the first pacer ever to win four championships.
Bred, owned and trained by Alain Martin of Gatineau, Atomic Million AM, Atomic Million AM is the class of the field, having lifetime earnings of $292,405C and a lifetime record of 1:50.3.
He gave notice in his last start that he is ready to take on all comers as he wired the field at H3R in 1:56.4 on an off-track (2 seconds). He will be driven by Guy Gagnon on Sunday.
The field also features Sports Authority from post three. This gelded son of Sportswriter is coming off a 1:54 second place finish at Tioga Downs in the USA for trainer Marc Major and is now in the barn of Stephane Poullet and will be driven by Melanie Plourde.
Other contenders include former Quebec Series champions, HP Patriote (post 2) and Stock (post five), with DJ Power (post four) and SOS Shanghaiavprince (post 6) to round out the field.
The fifth race is the second division for older horses and featured is $501,000C career winner McKinney, who is also a former Quebec-Bred Champion. He starts from post three for driver Francis Picard.
Now trained by Francis Richard, McKinny ships back to Quebec from Ontario, where he is off to another great season, having already won at Mohawk Raceway in 1:52.
He will face Rideau Carleton invaders, Beach Runner A M (post 4) and Majo Lou Beka (post 6), along with Bali (post 1), Kinnder Jackson (post 2) and Rose Run Slider (post 5).
The four-year-old and up mares divisions start in the third race where former champions Charleurs Fantasy (post 3) meets up with Lit De Rose (post 6).
The race favorite at 5/2 is Skyfall Sena (post 5), also owned and trained by Alain Martin and shows a 1:56.2 score last month at Kawartha Downs.
The eighth race is the second mares' division and is headed by YS Tallia (post 5) for driver Stephane Gendron. She is a five-year-old mare by Western Ideal with more than $217,000C in lifetime earnings. She is shipping back to Canada from the USA and is trained by Michel Allard for breeder/owner Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation.
Other contenders include Lune Bleu (post 2) and Butterfly BG (post 1).
For a free race program for Sunday's ten-race card, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club