from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, QC — The third and final preliminary round of the C$200,000 Quebec-Bred Series for 4- and 5-year-old trotters will be raced at Hippodrome 3R this Wednesday night (June 3), with the top horses qualifying for their respective C$35,000 series championships on Sunday (June 14).

There will be one C$6,500 event for mares, slotted for race six, with C$6,500 divisions in races one and three for the horses and geldings — one of which is so dominant wagering will not be allowed on him, for better betting balance for the bettor.

The “super horse” is Maximuscle, who (as if he needed it) got the advantage of drawing post one for driver Mario Charron, trainer Maxime Velaye and owners Ecurie Provoquante. After winning in the first preliminary leg in 1:58.4, the altered son of Angus Hall took last week off, but he’ll be back Wednesday in the third race, looking to stay sharp to win his third consecutive series title, having won at 2 and 3, both in stakes record time.

The two horses who took the second round prelim divisions in Maximuscle’s absence last week, Andovers Touch and SOS Ticket Master, were unfortunate at the post draw, getting the outside gate spots five and six, respectively, in the first race prelim for the males. Andovers Touch won in the faster time last week (2:00.1, vs. SOS Ticket Master’s 2:02.1) and was second to Maximuscle the first week, so it is likely that this Andover Hall gelding, driven by Stephane Pouliot for trainer Dany Fontaine and owners Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc., will be the post-time favorite.

In the sixth race lone cut for mares, Viva Bayama, winner of her first leg prelim, has a decided post advantage (three vs. seven) over Canbec Kangourou, who won the only division in the second round, as the last two winners of the Quebec 3-year-old filly trotting championship square off in a field of eight. Viva Bayama will have the services of Denis St. Pierre, who swept all three of the second round series pacing races Sunday, for trainer Sebastien Groux, while Canbec Kangourou, conditioned by Jean Tourigny, will have the sulky services of Jocelyn Gendron.

Mention should be of Ocean Mist Beauty (post two, driver Stephane Brosseau), who won a division of the first round elim and was second to Canbec Kangourou last week.

The first of Wednesday’s ten races at Hippodrome 3R will be going to post at 7 p.m.