This Sunday, the Hippodrome 3R features two strong trotting features on its 10-race program, headed by the return of three-time Quebec-Bred Series champion Maximuscle.
But will the real Maximuscle show up on Sunday?
Plagued by breaks behind the starting gate at the start of three of his last four races, the $191,000 career winner has been giving headaches to his trainer Maxime Velaye and driver Mario Charron.
“[Maximuscle] had this problem when he was younger,” said Velaye. “But these last three breaks, believe it or not, is just bad luck. These things happen, but I am sure he will be alright on Sunday.”
The four-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall starts from post four in the third race on Sunday. He is listed as the morning line favourite despite making a break at the start of his last race at Rideau Carleton Raceway. Maximuscle was able to catch up to the field, but finished sixth, race timed in 1:59.
In his prior start, Maximuscle was able to “mind his manners” at Trois-Rivieres in the Open Trot and wired the field by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:57.4. That was his seventh win in just 12 starts this year.
“Mario [Charron] knows him very well,” Velaye added. “He has been driving him nearly his whole career. [Maximuscle] will be perfect and ready to rock on Sunday!”
Maximuscle will have to be at his best Sunday as he faces rival Caroluzzo (post two) with Stephane Gendron in the sulky. The six-year-old stallion by Musclesextrodinair was second to Maximuscle the last time they met at 3R. In his last four starts, Caroluzzo has been first or second.
The field also includes trotting mare Beer Maggs (post seven), who wired the field in his last start in 1:59.4 at Bedford for trainer/driver Kevin Maguire, and Meganou (post one), the lone filly in the race, who in her last start won her $65,000 Quebec-Bred Series final at 3R in 1:59.3 for driver Jocelyn Gendron and trainer Daniel Martin.
The first race feature trot sports a full field of nine starters and is a wide-open affair.
Aworthy Bi (post four) was an impressive winner from post eight last week on a muddy track. He takes the always competitive Kim Sorel (post five), who has been first, second or third in her last three starts.
Post time Sunday at 3R is 1:30 p.m.