from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — The 2- and 3-year-old pacing colts and fillies headline six stakes races at the Hippodrome 3R Sunday afternoon (July 24). It’s the fourth and final preliminary round of the Breeders Cup Series for 3-year-olds and the first round of the Future Stars Series for 2-year-olds as they vie for one of eight spots in the C$65,000 finals on Sunday (Sept. 4).

The pacing colts get underway in two divisions in the third race. Sports Authority heads the field after he blew away the competition last week, cutting loose for trainer Maxime Velaye and driver Mario Charron, leading from the start to finish in a 6-1/2 length romp in 1:55.3. It was not just a lifetime mark for the son of Sportswriter but also his fifth win in eight starts this year. He will go from post four. His main competition will come from last year’s champion, Mr Mach Jimmy (post one) and Sagawi (post three).

The second colt division is race 11, where HP Patriote looks to make a clean sweep of the preliminary rounds, going for his fourth straight win. This son of Vintage Master was also at his best last week at 3R for driver Louis-Philippe Roy, romping by six lengths in a lifetime best 1:55.2. Trained by Gerard Demers, HP Patriote has an impressive seven wins in eight starts this year. He faces strong competition from YS Artistic Fella (post one), D G’s Ninja (post three) and Dance With Joe (post four).

The 3-year-old pacing fillies do battle in the ninth race with a full field of 10 starters. HP Pandora is the morning line favorite, but drew post nine and must start from the second tier behind Clodam Bayama (post one), who last week could not stay on stride as the betting favorite and finished last. HP Pandora is coming off a lifetime best performance for trainer Daniel Martin and will be driven once again by Louis-Philippe Roy. Last week the daughter of Mach Three crushed the field with a 6-1/4 length victory in 1:56.3, her second win this year. Also in the field is last week’s other divisional winner, Wild River Swan, who goes from post five, Drift Panic (post eight) and Skyfall Sena (post four).

There are three divisions of the opening round of the Future Stars Series for 2-year-old pacers.

A bulky field 10 fillies will be featured in the sixth race where two recent qualifying race winners, HP Celina Shadow (post six) takes on Kinnderuntouchable (post five). Both fillies won at 3R, HP Celina Shadow was the faster of the two in 2:03.2 and will be driven by Louis-Phillipe Roy as Kinnderuntouchable won in 2:03.3 for driver Justin Filion.

The other two divisions are non-wagering races for colts. The first is to be held at 1:15 p.m. and is a good match-up between Four Seven One (post two), Wildriverbumblebee (post five) and C L Sportaction (post three).

The second non-wagering race will be featured between the fifth and sixth races with the spotlight on Histoire Enchantee from post two for driver Mario Charron. This son of Shanghai Phil recently qualified at Rideau Carleton for trainer Maxime Velaye with an impressive 2:02.2 triumph and goes against other winners, Cyclone Joe (post five) and Majo Lou Beka (post four).

Post time Sunday is 1:30 p.m. for the wagering races. For a free program and live video simulcast, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.