by Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — After a two-week break for the Grand Prix auto races throughout the town of Trois-Rivieres, live harness racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R Tuesday (Aug. 16)evening. The C$200,000 Future Stars Series for 2-year-old trotters headline the return program with divisions for both the colts and fillies. This is the third of four weeks of preliminary round action. The top eight point earners in the series then return to 3R on Sunday (Sept. 4) for their respective C$65,000 finals.

A maiden performer who has never started in a purse race, is the morning line favorite in the first race division for trotting colts. His name is Real Lucky Day, a son of Donato Hanover, bred and owned by R L Belanger starts from post six for driver Stephane Brosseau. The Ontario invader has won his last three starts, all in qualifying races, and last week was very impressive at Mohawk Raceway for driver Sylvain Filion, winning by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:57.3.

The competition will be keen as Real Lucky Day takes on prior winners Capteur De Reve (post five) and Kinnder Dangerous (post four). Capteur De Reve was first and second in the opening rounds of the Future Stars Series and tried his luck last week in an C$18,000 division of the Grassroots Series at Rideau Carlton and finished fourth.

The trotting fillies get underway in the third race and the spotlight is upon the rivalry of both of the first two divisional winners in the series: Joyce Lavec and Taurus V P. Taurus V P starts from post three for driver Stephane Brosseau and won the opening round. She led from start to finish.

But the next week, Taurus V P tried the same tactic on the front end and that worked out for the pocket-sitting Joyce Lavec, who came on strong at the finish for driver Pascal Berube to beat Taurus V P. It will be good to see this rivalry continue. And perhaps lurking in the race and looking for an opportunity score an upset will be Affirmee (post four), who has been third to both of first two legs of the series.

TRACK NOTES: Wiggle It Jiggleit, fresh off his 1:49.1 victory over Always B Miki, All Bets Off and Shamballa in the $325,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park, is expected to head up to 3R for the C$200,000 Prix D’Ete next Sunday (Aug.21.) The Prix D’Ete is for 4-year-old pacers and the post position draw luncheon takes place Wednesday (Aug. 17.)

On Sunday, the red hot Strokin is the favorite at the Hippodrome de la Vallée in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs, Quebec, for their annual Five-Mile Race. Nine pacers will go ten laps around the half-mile oval.

In his last start, Strokin set the world record at 3R in their two-mile race and he will be driven again by 3R’s leading driver, Louis-Philippe Roy. Strokin is trained by Yves Tessier.

Post time Tuesday evening at 3R is 7:00 pm. For a free race program and live video via the internet, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.