from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — It’s not often that you see a much older trotter that can still show his heels to younger rivals, especially in the Invitational ranks, but that is the case when it comes to Four Starz Speed at the Hippodrome 3R. Come this Sunday, the 12-year-old gelded son of Conway Hall will seek his eighth victory of the year at H3R, starting from post seven for trainer/driver Kevin Maguire in the seventh race Invitational Trot.

Last week was win number seven for Four Starz Speed, who was able to lead from start to finish for driver Louis-Philippe Roy, winning by three open lengths in 1:59. He is listed as the 7-2 third choice in the morning line.

thephotodesk.ca photo

Four Starz Speed seeks to collect his eighth victory of the season on Sunday at H3R.

Owned by the Maguire Stable of Sainte-Marie, doing well, winning races and making money has been the standard year-in-year out for Four Starz Speed. Last year, at age 11, he posted an impressive 13 wins with earnings of C$54,784. He already has bankrolled C$39,889 this year with his seven wins, seven seconds and two third place finishes in just 20 starts and could well surpass his earnings from last year. Career-wise, Four Starz Speed has won C$831,887.

But once again it will not be an easy walk-in-the-park for Four Starz Speed faces some stiff competition, especially from Unabating.

From the barn of Guy Gagnon and owned by Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel, Unabating had five wins and five seconds in his 14 starts this year. He is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the race.

A 9-year-old gelding by Broadway Hall, Unabating ships back to H3R after back-to-back second place finishes at Rideau Carlton and prior to that, he had won the Invitational Trot at H3R, also in 1:59. Guy Gagnon will do the driving from post four.

The lone mare in the field, Torches Angel, goes from post five for driver Pierre Luc Roy. She was second to Four Starz Speed last week.

Sports Authority, who had the long shot hopes of Trois-Rivieres behind him in the Prix D’Ete last week, but finished last in the race, is back in the eighth race to headline the Invitational Pace. He starts from post six and is the 5-2 favorite in the race.

Moving up in class for the first time in the Invitational is Tidewater Tomahawk off the strength of two strong wins against lesser. He starts from the rail for driver Daniel Mondou.

Track Notes: There is also an extra distance race in the sixth Sunday for pacers, as a large field of 11 starters will go at 1-1/2 miles, three laps around the H3R half-mile oval.

Driver Stephane Brosseau, needs just one win to reach the 3,000-win career mark, but most likely that will come at the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit on Saturday, but Brosseau will still be honored Sunday at H3R for his special achievement.

Coming up on Sunday (Sept. 3), will be the Quebec-bred Championship Day with four C$65,000 finals for 3-year-old’s and four C$55,000 finals for 2-year-old trotters and pacers. It is annually the richest day of race at H3R during the season with total purses on the program of more than C$500,000.

For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.