The elimination fields are set for Hanover Raceway's signature event of the summer, the 2018 Dream Of Glory Trot.
Two eliminations are slated for this Saturday (July 28), with the top four finishers from each advancing to next Saturday's $60,000E final. The race is open to Ontario-Sired three-year-old trotting colts and fillies that are non-winners of $75,000 (fillies $100,000) in 2017.
Bob McClure drove three-year-old trotting gelding Joey Bats to a 1:58 Gold Series victory at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday, July 18.
Four trainers with previous Dream Of Glory champions have entrants in Saturday's eliminations. Trainer Keith Jones looks to have the best chance at adding another piece of hardware to his mantle with the morning-line favourite in each of the eliminations. Jones, who won the first ever Dream Of Glory with Abbey Road C in 2002, will send out Henderson Seelster (PP1, K. Jones, 3-5) and Joey Bats (PP2, K. Jones, 3-5) in the second elim.
Both trotting colts are owned by Douglas McCarthy of Holland Landing, Ont., and both enter the Dream Of Glory elims off of OSS Gold wins over the half-mile oval at Grand River Raceway on July 18.
John Bax leads all trainers with three Dream Of Glory wins -- Agusto (2009), Summer Indian (2012) and Hemi Seelster (2015). He has two solid chances for a fourth title, sending out OSS Grassroots winners Delcrest Holiday (PP4, Steve Byron, 9-2) in the first elim and Sicario (PP4, Steve Byron, 5-2) in the second. Byron is the winningest driver in the Dream Of Glory with four titles.
Wayne Henry captured the Dream Of Glory in 2014 with Warrawee Promesse and he returns with two chances to repeat, sending out OSS Grassroots winning homebred Gotta Pay To Play (PP3, W. Henry, 5-2) in the first split and Daylon Phantom (PP1, W. Henry, 5-1) in the second. Gotta Pay To Play is one of three fillies entered against the colts. The last filly to win the Dream Of Glory was Random Solution in 2008.
The 2017 edition of the Dream Of Glory was won by trainer Mark Etsell and Mister Muscle. Etsell will aim for the repeat with the improving OSS Grassroots-winning filly Miller Time (PP5, M. Etsell, 8-1) in the second elim.
Saturday night is Hanover District Hospital Night at the races, featuring Human Sulky Races, a 50/50 draw, live entertainment and a BBQ on the Roof Top, compliments of the Cara Smith Band & Angel Arms Pet Rescue.
First race post time on Saturday is set for 7:15 p.m. with the elims slotted as races four and eight. To view the entries for Saturday's card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Hanover Raceway.