The connections of 16 Ontario-sired trotters have entered their charges to contest the 15th annual Dream Of Glory Trot at Hanover Raceway. A pair of $12,000 eliminations have been drawn and will be the focal points during the track’s program of racing this Saturday evening (July 23).

The top four finishers from each elimination will gain entrance to the $75,000 (estimated) eight-horse final, which will be contested on Saturday, July 30.

National Hockey League great Keith Primeau and Ontario Hockey League draftee Connor Roberts of Owen Sound – who was picked second overall in the last OHL draft by the Hamilton Bulldogs – will be on-hand at the track this Saturday. Both will be available for a short autograph session at roughly 9:00 p.m. The duo will also help with the post position draw for the final of Dream Of Glory Trot, which will take place after the last elimination.

The Isabelle Darveau-trained Wildwild Men (PP1, R. Shepherd, 2-1) has been installed as the morning line favourite from the rail for the first elimination (Race 4). The Muscle Mass gelding is shipping in from Hippodrome 3R for the Dream Of Glory elims, as he has won his last two races at the Quebec oval. Chestnut Schofield (PP4, K. Jones, 3-1), JLs Bad Moon Risin (PP3, Tra. Henry, 7-2) and Major Muscle (PP6, M. Etsell, 4-1) have also been assessed favourably on the morning line.

Rail starter Sass (PP1, Ja. MacDonald, 7-5) has caught the attention of the morning-line oddsmaker in the second elimination, and has been pegged as the early favourite. The Kadabra colt calls the Mark Steacy Stable home. He will be looking to continue his recent good form on Saturday. Sass won a conditioned event at Mohawk Racetrack on July 4 and was a close second at the Campbellville oval on July 11 during a $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event. Zagster (PP5, Tra. Henry, 8-5) is the slight morning-line second choice and Gonna Fly (PP8, B. Forward, 9-2) has also caught the oddsmaker’s eye.

Also on Saturday, ‘Wanna Drive’ representatives will be on site with two horses and two double-seated jog carts. Also, draws will be done for a chance to drive a racehorse around the track in between the races.

Dream Of Glory final day will include a beef on a bun BBQ, a live band, and a huge fireworks display after the races (weather permitting).

Last year's edition was won by Hemi Seelster who also set a new track record of 1:56.4 breaking the record set in the first event by millionaire trotter Abbey Road C.

First-race post time this Saturday night is 7:15 p.m.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Hanover, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Hanover Raceway.

The fields for the eliminations appear below.

Elimination 1
(Race 4)
(PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Wildwild Men – R. Shepherd – I. Darveau – 2-1
2 – Pukka – K. Jones – K. Jones – 15-1
3 - JLs Bad Moon Risin – Tra. Henry – R. Moreau – 7-2
4 – Chestnut Schofield – K. Jones – K. Jones – 3-1
5 – P C Cantore – R. Battin – P. Clements – 8-1
6 – Major Muscle – M. Etsell – M. Etsell – 4-1
7 – Windsongmusclelady – S. Byron – J. Bax – 15-1
8 – Miami Magic – S. Byron – J. Bax – 12-1

Elimination 2
(Race 8)
(PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Sass – Ja. Macdonald – M. Steacy – 7-5
2 – Very Classy – S. Byron – J. Bax – 8-1
3 – Manwithamission – A. Hamilton – A. Hamilton – 10-1
4 – March – K. Jones – K. Jones – 12-1
5 – Zagster – Tra. Henry – S. Henry – 8-5
6 – Smoke Monkey – Br. Richardson – R. Fellows – 7-1
7 – P C Foreign Affair – C. Clements – C. Clements – 12-1
8 – Gonna Fly – B. Forward – R. McIntosh – 9-2

(With files from Hanover Raceway)