Hanover Raceway's Balanced Image Stake eliminations highlighted its All Trot Card on Saturday night with Trottin' Trevor Ritchie steering a pair of the freshmen winners.

The elimination round was split into four $7,500 races with the top two finishers in each advancing to next Saturday's $66,400 final.

Ritchie earned his first elimination win aboard the maiden-breaking Crowningcrest, who front-stepped his way to a 2:01.4 triumph for trainer Susie Kerwood and owner/breeder Langcrest Farm of East Garafraxa, Ont.
The popular Mutineer-Incredible Iam gelding held off the late-rallying Ehrnrooth and Riina Rekila by three-quarters of a length.

Jayport Princess also earned her first career win in front end fashion for Ritchie, defeating fellow filly foe Charstruck and Doug Brown by three lengths in 2:02. Trainer Christopher Beaver shares ownership of the Kadabra-Jayport Sweetheart miss with Synerco Ventures Inc. of Toronto and Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Guelph-Eramosa, Ont.

Driven by Bruce Richardson for trainer Richard Moreau, Wings Of Ballykeel was another first-time filly winner in the eliminations as she turned back a first over challenger and held off the pocket-sitting Rival Seelster and Lorne House by three-quarters of a length in 2:03.4. The homebred Pegasus Spur-Frost On The Gate filly is owned by Ballykeel Racing of Tillsonburg, Ont.

Warrawee Promesse won the fastest elimination with a wire-to-wire maiden-breaking effort in 2:00.3 for trainer/driver Wayne Henry. The Windsong Espoir-Warrawee Indy gelding, who was two-fifths of a second off the track record for two-year-old male trotters, was followed three and a half lengths behind by pocket-sitter Southernfriedsting and Garrett Rooney. He is owned by the Henry Stable of Arthur, Ont. and Fred Brayford of Alliston, Ont.

Hanover Raceway also hosted the $8,000 Walker Memorial Trot, which was won by Amigo Loco and J Harris in 1:57 flat. Andy Hardy trains the six-year-old Amigo Hall gelding for owner Timothy Varey of London, Ont.

Harlequin earned his third straight Trotting Under Saddle victory in 2:04 with Rekila riding for Geoff and Shanna Maltby of Acton, Ont. The 12-year-old gelding won prior races this summer in Grand River and Clinton. The non-wagering event, however, was marred by an accident in which Lollipop Gal and Maggie Jones fell going to the half. Reports from Hanover indicate Jones was taken to hospital following the incident to be checked out.

The field for next Saturday's $66,400 Balanced Image Trot will line up in the following post position order:

1. Rival Seelster
2. Wings Of Ballykeel
3. Crowningcrest
4. Warrawee Promesse
5. Charstruck
6. Southernfriedsting
7. Jayport Princess
8. Ehrnrooth
AE1. Blue Mitchell
AE2. Conway Escape

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