from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — Eight of the top 4-year-old harness racing pacers in North America will do battle this Sunday (Sept. 21) in the C$200,000 revival of the Prix D’Ete at the Hippodrome 3R and their connections learned today what post positions they have.

The Prix D’Ete is the richest race in North America this year for 4-year-old pacers and many of the nation’s top harness racing drivers will be coming to Quebec province to compete on the race card.

“What a great field that has entered our revival of the Prix D’Ete,” said Vincent Trudel, the general manager of the Hippodrome 3R. “We could not have asked for a more competitive field. I am sure that Duc D’Orleans’ track record of 1:52.4 will be in jeopardy this Sunday and that our racing fans and horsemen are going to see a superb world-class race.”

Headlining the field of eight starters will be Apprentice Hanover from the Ben Wallace stable. The son of Somebeachsomewhere enters the race off of a lifetime mark performance last week at Mohawk Raceway in 1:49.2. Jody Jamieson will do the driving and they drew post five.

World renowned trainer Jimmy Takter has entered his top pacer, Sunfire Blue Chip, who is on a four-race winning streak including a 1:49.2 triumph in the $50,000 Open at Pocono Downs in his last start. Yannick Gingras returns to his home track to drive Sunfire Blue Chip. They did not fare well in the draw and will start from the outside in post eight.

The local favorite and all-age track record holder at the Hippodrome 3R is Duc D’Orleans, who starts from post four. Back in 2013 he became the only horse ever to break the 1:53 mark at 3R, going in 1:52.4. He will be driven by native son Daniel Dube.

Captive Audience leaves from post seven for driver James MacDonald. The son of Art Major was an early season sensation and has recently been going against the best pacers at Mohawk.

Lucan Hanover hails from the talented Casie Coleman Stable and starts from post three. This son of Western Ideal has but one win this year but has been super game all season. Last week he was second by a nose on Yonkers’ half-mile oval in 1:58, going the extra distance at 1-1/16th mile, and the prior week he won at Yonkers in 1:51.1. He will be driven by David Miller.

Mach It So starts from post six for trainer PJ Fraley and ships to 3R having won three of his last four starts, the fastest a 1:48.2 lifetime mark at Pocono Downs. The Mach Three gelding will be handled by Scott Zeron.

Sunshine Beach drew the rail and is the highest money earner in the field at $971,077, so a victory in the Prix D’Ete would make him a millionaire. He is locally co-owned by the Hudson Standardbred Stable of Montreal and has a record this year of 1:49 at Mohawk Raceway. He will be driven by Doug McNair.

Si Semalu comes into the race after two sharp efforts at Mohawk Raceway, finishing second last week and the prior week posting his fifth win on the season for trainer Isaac Waxman in 1:52. He drew well with post two and will be driven by local star Denis St. Pierre.

Here is the field in post position order with driver and trainer:

1. Sunshine Beach-Doug McNair-Mark Steacy
2. Si Semalu-Denis St. Pierre-Isaac Waxman
3. Lucan Hanover-David Miller-Casie Coleman
4. Duc D’Orleans-Daniel Dube-Jacques Dupont
5. Apprentice Hanover-Jody Jamieson-Ben Wallace
6. Mach It So-Scott Zeron-PJ Fraley
7. Captive Audience-James MacDonald-Corey Johnson
8. Sunfire Blue Chip-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter

There will be no consolation race.

Initially known as the Prix d’Automne and won by older horses such as the three-time Horse of the Year Bret Hanover, the marquee event at Blue Bonnets racetrack in Montreal was converted into the Prix D’Ete race for 3-year-old pacers in 1970 and remained one of the major North American stakes in the division until its last running in 1992. Past winners included Cam Fella, Niatross, Albatross, Strike Out, Abercrombie, Matt’s Scooter and Beach Towel.

The Prix D’Ete weekend gets underway Saturday evening with a special live race program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday’s Prix D’Ete race card post time is 1 p.m.

For additional information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.