from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Riveres, PQ — Last Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R, Rocky Boy was feeling his oats in scoring a TKO in the Preferred Trot, and now faces some tough invaders this Sunday (May 7) as he seeks a repeat performance.

There are nine starters in the seventh race co-feature. Rocky Boy and driver Marc Belanger start from post seven. Last week he was pressured to a blazing :27.4 opening quarter on H3R’s half-mile oval, and then held the field at bay, winning in a romp by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:57.

In any other age or gender division at H3R, that would have been a track record mile. The record for older trotting geldings is 1:56, set by both Pablo Angus (2008) and Michelangelo (2014).

Invaders to H3R for the top trot that will give Rocky Boy a tussle include Raising Richard in post five for driver Richard Simard. Raising Richard comes into the contest on a three-race winning streak at Rideau Carleton, the fastest a 1:57 triumph. Raising Richard sports four wins this season in just nine starts.

Four Starz Speed is the class of the field with career earnings of $774,732. The old man of the field at age 12, Four Starz Speed recently won at Rideau Carleton in 1:58.4 and has three wins already this season.

Torches Angel, the lone mare in the field, was second best to Rocky Boy last week, and starts from post six for driver Pierre-Luc Roy while track record holder Caroluzzo goes from post four with Stephane Gendron handling the lines.

Sunday’s Preferred Pace is a wide-open affair with nine starters in the 10th race.

Newcomer Ufdragons Rocket ships in from Mohawk Raceway and goes from post five for driver Stephane Gendron. They have been made the 5-2 race favorite. He did not fare well in his two starts in Toronto, but prior at Rideau Carleton, had won four straight races, the fastest in 1:52.1, and sports five wins this season.

The race sees the 2016 top 3-year-old pacer and Sire Stakes champion HP Patriote return to H3R, starting from post seven for trainer/driver Gerard Demers. Last season the gelded son of Vintage Master won an impressive 13 starts. He is making just his second start of the season.

Another top 3-year-old from last season in the Quebec-Bred Series making his debut Sunday in the Preferred Pace is Sports Authority. He starts from post three for trainer Maxime Velaya and driver Pierre-Luc Roy.

Velaya feels that this one will be the big star in the stable this year and has kept him eligible for the C$200,000 Prix D’Ete on Aug. 20. As well, HP Patriote is also nominated for the Prix D’Ete.

Other contenders in the field include Pantheon Seelster (post eight), Bali (post six) and Onyx (post one).

For more information, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

Track Notes: Driver Stephane Gendron is now 11 wins away from his 4,000th career win and has six drives Sunday. Both Reposession (race two) and Jamigo (race seven) will seek to remain undefeated at H3R this season, both with two wins already. First race post time is 12:50 p.m.