from the Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, QC — In what could be a preview to the C$65,000 final of the Quebec-Bred Series for 2-year-old trotting colts Sept. 6 at the Hippodrome 3R, three outstanding freshmen will battle this Wednesday (Aug. 26).

The third and final preliminary of the C$200,000 series takes place Wednesday at 3R and after that the top eight point earners get to race in the final.

The first race, first division on Wednesday pits three top contenders, all coming off victories in their last start.

Leading the field is Wildwild Men from post three for driver Robert Shepherd. In his last start in the series, the gelded son of Muscle Mass set the track record for 2-year-old geldings with a 2:02.4 score. It was his third win in just six lifetime starts for trainer Isabelle D’Darveau and co-owners Catheline Pelleto and Chantal Gravel, who bred the horse.

A winner of three of his last four starts, Wildwild Men does his best racing on the front end, but now faces two formidable foes in Panama’s Boy and Sass.

Last week Panama’s Boy was able to avenge his opening round loss to Tuscans Memory with a 2:02.4 record triumph and starts from post six for driver Stephane Brosseau.

Sass broke his maiden last week in the series for driver Clarke Steacy, coming from off the pace to win with ease in 2:03.1, the last quarter in :29.4. Sass starts from post seven.

The fourth race second division features Tuscans Memory from post six for driver Pascal Berube. This son of Kadabra made his presence known in Quebec with an opening round victory and then a tough loss last week to Panama’s Boy.

He will not have it easy on Wednesday, taking on Defi Normand (post eight) and KFB Amigo Cool in post three.

Track Notes: Record handle and attendance were set Sunday on Prix D’Ete Day. Attendance was near 5,000 people, more than ten percent of the population of Trois-Rivieres. The track handle showed a 20 percent increase over last year’s revival of the Prix D’Ete. Of the 12 races, nine of them were won by horses on the lead. Seven of the 12 races were won by betting favorites.