On Saturday (Aug. 24) Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies will gather at Hanover Raceway for six $22,000 Grassroots divisions, part of the Grey County oval’s annual Balanced Image Final night.

Shawn Steacy guided Lifeisgood Hanover to a win in last weekend’s Balanced Image Trot eliminations and will send the gelding after a share of the $56,600 purse from Post 5 in Saturday’s final. The trainer-driver will also send out a trio of freshman pacing fillies in Grassroots action -- Noir, Bellini Seelster and In The News.

“I’ve got three fillies, two of them especially, that Bellini Seelster and the In The News filly, they’re both real handy, real slick gaited,” said Steacy. “They’ve been able to get around the half good so far racing at Grand River and everything.

Bellini Seelster, winning at Grand River

“All three of those got the rail,” added the Guelph resident, who will line up at Post 1 with Noir in the first race, Bellini Seelster in the second race and In The News in the sixth. “And the other filly we have there, Noir, she’s a nice filly too. She’s not quite as handy as the other two fillies, but I think she’s got even a bigger engine in her than the first two.”

Sunshine Beach daughter Noir and Sportswriter filly In The News will both be looking for their first lifetime win on Saturday, while Bellini Seelster comes into the $22,450 contest off a 2:00 victory at Grand River Raceway on Aug. 16. Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, QC bred and owns Noir, while Katherine Steacy and Landmark 12 of Lansdowne and 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Ottawa, Ont. share ownership of Bellini Seelster and Mark Steacy of Lansdowne, Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont. and 1187422 Ontario Inc. own In The News.

Last Saturday’s win was Lifeisgood Hanover’s first in four career starts. The son of Royalty For Life will start inside the quickest elimination winner, Awsomedabra, who drew Post 7. The other elimination winner, Royaltys Odyssey, will start from the trailing Post 8.

“He raced really good. He’s a steady goer and he’s good gaited too. For a young trotter that means a lot,” said Steacy of Lifeisgood Hanover. “I think we drew the best out of the division winners, so I’m pretty happy with that. I like that better than the rail actually for a young trotter, because I found it was hard to get away from the rail last week.”

Klunowski, David Reid of Sydenham and Claus Jorgensen of Etobicoke, Ont. share ownership of Lifeisgood Hanover, whose resume also sports a pair of runner-up finishes in Grassroots action.

The freshman pacing fillies will kick off Saturday’s program at 7:15 pm in the first race and will also compete in Races 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8. The Walker Invitation Trot goes postward in Race 7 and the Balanced Image Final is slated as Race 9. Steacy expects another big crowd will be on hand to cheer on the young trotters.

“Last week they had a good crowd for the eliminations,” said the horseman, who currently leads all trainers in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. “Balanced Image and Dream Of Glory night always do really good up there.”

In addition to Saturday’s Grassroots event for the two-year-old pacing fillies, Hanover Raceway will also host the regular season finale for the two-year-old trotting colts on Sept. 14.

To view the entries for Saturday’s Balanced Image night card, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Hanover Raceway.

(OSS)