from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, QC — Headed by the 2014 Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winning 3-Year-Old Pacer of the Year, McWicked, harness racing’s top crop from last year have made the final nomination payment for the C$200,000 Prix D’Ete at the Hippodrome 3R.

The rich final, restricted to just 19 4-year-olds in 2015, is set for Sunday, August 23 on 3R’s half mile oval with the top eight money winners this season at time of entry getting their nose on the starting gate.

Mr. Consistent of 2014, McWicked, hails from the Casie Coleman Stable and is owned by Ed James SSG Stable of North Boston, NY.

The colt won 12 of 23 races and hit the board a total of 21 times. He finished the season on a three-race win streak, which included the Breeders Crown and a stakes-record triumph in the Progress Pace.

His other major victories included the Delvin Miller Adios and Max C. Hempt Memorial. His time of 1:47.3f in the Hempt at Pocono Downs is the fastest mile ever by a 3-year-old on a five-eighths-mile track.

McWicked is just getting geared up for the 2015 season and recently won a qualifying race at Pocono Downs in 1:52.2.

Next on the list is All Bets Off. This son of Bettors Delight won $911,425 last year and is already on a roll in 2015. He recently won his elimination division and then the C$200,000 final of the Confederation Cup.

Big Boy Dreams, winner last year of the Windy City Pace, was purchased during the off season for $265,000, and is now trained by Rene Allard who has set their sights on the Prix D’Ete. Already this season the son of If I Can Dream, has won back-to-back Open events at both Yonkers and Pocono Downs, the fastest an impressive 1:49.4.

Another outstanding 4-year-old nominated is He’s Watching, who set the world record last season with his 1:46.4 triumph in the Meadowlands Pace.

The list keeps looking stronger with outstanding performers Limelight Beach, Luck Be Withyou and Somewhere In L A also eligible to the Prix D’Ete.

“This is a superb list of top horses for this year’s Prix D’Ete,” said Vincent Trudel, general manager at the Hippodrome 3R. “It is safe to say that with this caliber of great horses eligible, the all-age track record of 1:50.3 set last year in the Prix D’Ete by Sunfire Blue Chip, will most certainly be in jeopardy.

“We are looking forward to having a great Prix D’Ete weekend August 22 and 23,” Trudel said. “We want to invite everyone to come out to beautiful Trois-Rivieres for our live harness racing and enjoy our wonderful Quebecois hospitality!”

Final Nominees 2015 Prix D’Ete

All Bets Off
Arthur Blue Chip
Atomic Million Am
Bettorever
Big Boy Dreams
Boomboom Ballykeel
Electric Western
He’s Watching
Ideal Cowboy
Limelight Beach
Luck Be Withyou
Mattamerican
McWicked
National Best
Somewhere In LA
Three Of Clubs
Titus Seelster
Unlocked
Winds Of Change