Trois-Rivieres, QC – For the past 25 years, Pascal Berube and Isabelle Binet work side-by-side in their barn, Pascal does the driving and Isabelle the training for their harness racing stable.
One of the stars of the stable is stakes champion Holiday Party, who headlines the 8th race Preferred-Handicap Trot at the Hippodrome 3R Friday evening.
"Holiday feels really good this season," Berube said. "He was turned out for a while this winter and now he looks in peak form and ready to go."
In three start this season, Holiday Party has a third place, second place and last week a victory in the top class at the Hippodrome 3R.
That victory was an easy one for Berube, as the duo left from post five, went right to the lead and never looked back, breeze to the wire by three and one-half lengths in 2:00.
When asked about the race on Friday, Berube said. "I worry a little about Talbotcreek Suzie (post 7). She shows very fast speed and may be perfect for a half mile track like Trois-Rivieres.
Also, in the well-matched field is the great closer, Rocky Boy (post 8), Rideau Carleton invader, Wings Of Ballykeel and the 2019 debut of Denitza Petrova's Kinnder Dangerous.
At age three, Holiday Party was a terror on the racetrack. He totally dominated the three-year-old trotting ranks. At one point he was on a six-race winning streak, mostly with Berube doing the driving.
In the $65,000C Breeders Cup Final that season, not only did Holiday Party win with Berube driving, but they set the track record with a 1:58.2 triumph.
Holiday Party has come a long way considering he made eight starts at age 2 and had no wins that first season of racing. He now sports career earnings of $191,000C for the Holiday Party Stable of Portneuf.
As for Berube and Binet, they have a very exciting summer season ahead of them with a stable full of promising racehorses. They are also very proud of their 21-year-old son, Olivier, who is a promising hockey star. Pascal loves hockey and plays whenever he gets spare time and is a very good goalie.
Earlier on the program, in the fifth race, the undefeated and winningest horse this season at the Hippodrome 3R, Sultan D Or, goes for his fourth straight victory in 2019.
The ten-year-old gelded son of Newtown starts from post two for driver Jocelyn Gendron. Racing from both on and off the pace, Sultan D Or has returned this year in good form for owner/trainer Pierre Turcotte of Trois-Rivieres.
Post time Friday night is at 7:00 pm. For a free race program, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
From the Quebec Jockey Club