My Buddy Sam and driver Travis Henry turned in a strong back half and cruised to victory in the 50th annual Walker Memorial Invitational Trot Saturday, Aug. 22 at Hanover Raceway, stopping the timer in 1:58.2.

Drawing post seven in the field of eight, My Buddy Sam settled in fourth early as Like Chaos and Bruce Richardson dictated the pace with fractions of :28.3 and :59.1. As the field passed the grandstand for the first time in the $12,500 event, Henry pulled the favourite from the pylons and advanced on the outside, a nose off the lead at the three quarter mile marker (1:28.2). Once on the lead, My Buddy Sam distanced the field, crossing the wire 4-3/4 lengths to the good. Third choice Livingitlarge, steered by trainer Lorne House, finished second followed by Like Chaos.

My Buddy Sam is a six-year-old Archangel-Century Alakazam gelding, owned by Jennifer Pinkerton of Mount Brydges, Ont. and breeder Patricia Bailey, of St. Marys, Ont. Pinkerton trains the 15-time lifetime winner. The victory is the second seasonal score in 19 attempts for My Buddy Sam, now with career earnings of $179,331. He returned $3.20. The victory was one of three on the card for Henry.

Mare Fated Fire received every call but had to fight back in the final steps to beat the boys and claim the $12,500 Gail Murray Invitational Pace, winning narrowly in 1:56.4.

Damian Maclellan sent the second choice to the lead from post five, and the duo clicked off fractions of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.2. Scratchin An Itch (House), challenged the leader, and even pushed ahead in the stretch, but Fated Fire battled back along the inside to finish a neck in front. Favourite Ideal Perception, driven by Sam Fillion, paced third.

Fated Fire, a six-year-old Straight Shooting-Shes Meant To Be mare, is owned by Mindy Findling Repko of Muncie, Indiana. She is trained by Pam Forgie. Fated Fire earned her second win in 26 starts this year, and now has 21 career victories and $241,311 on her card.

Handsome Hank used a perfect pocket trip to his advantage to score the 7th renewal of the $7,500 Lynn Wedow Memorial Trot at Hanover, crossing the line in 1:59.3. Guided from post five by House, Handsome Hank settled in behind Gravenhurst (George Ketros) as the leader established the tempo with splits of :28.4, :58.1 and 1:28. Once off the pylons, Handsome Hank surged to the lead and finished three parts of a length in front. Favoured Bulldog (Fillion) raced third.

Katelyn Graham owns and trains the six-year-old Stormin Normand-Escadilla gelding, now a three-time winner in 2026. The trotter has earned $28,322 this season and $161,248 in his career.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway

(Standardbred Canada; photo of My Buddy Sam winning on July 26)