It's just under three months away from opening day at Hanover Raceway and close to five months away from the eliminations of our biggest race, the Dream of Glory.
The race is open to three-year-old trotting colts and geldings with less than $75,000 in earnings last season and fillies who had earnings of less than $100,000.
Hanover Raceway has 94 horses being nominated and remaining eligible to the Dream of Glory. The track thanks all the trainers and owners who kept their horses eligible for this race, and promises to give its very best to give this event the spotlight it deserves. Along with a sizable purse, Hanover Raceway will also be giving the winner an Original Framed Art Work of the winning horses victory, created by famed artist Michelle Hogan (harnessartist.com), that has a value of $1,000 and is a lifelong keepsake for the winner.
In leading up to the Dream of Glory, Hanover wants to highlight some of those eligible to the event, understanding that only base things can be analyzed on race lines from the eligible horses. There is no doubt that a horse who was unraced at two or very lightly raced will be heard from and could very well win the event. That said, there is a treasure trove of high-quality colts, geldings and fillies that are eligible to the race. Some "contenders" may also choose a different racing path and not enter the elimination of race and Hanover understands that as well. No trainers were contacted for feedback on how any of the horses are training back for this season.
With all that said, here are 15 strong contenders for Dream of Glory Supremacy:
1. Sweet Soul David - Trainer Patrick Lang
Owners: Patrick T Lang, Ancaster, Ont.; Dewitt Stables, Little Britain, Ont.; Paul W Kleinpaste, Orangeville, Ont.; Garth S Bechtel, Meaford, Ont.
The three-year-old Kadabra son was a dominant winner of the Balanced Image final, romping by seven lengths with Denis St. Pierre in the bike. He was capable of going much faster, but was tons the best and did all he needed to do and more. He chalked a 2-1-1 slate in eight starts and $68,599 in earnings. He was also good enough to make the $250,000 OSS Gold Final for two-year-old trotting colts. He's the horse to beat and if he does win, would be just the second horse to win both the Balanced Image and Dream of Glory, joining Traverse Seelster.
2. Harry - Trainer Paul Walker
Owners: Brenda J Walker, Owen Sound, Ont.; Christine P Walker, Tara, Ont.
This homebred son of Royalty for Life, who is the younger brother of 2020 O'Brien Award winner Pemberton, had a very productive two-year-old season, stashing away $38,671 in six starts with a win and four on-the-board finishes. He finished second in his elimination of the Balanced Image at Hanover Raceway, but elected to skip the $50,000 final in favour of an OSS Gold Event, where he finished third. He chalked a mark of 1:56.1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and flashed enough ability and talent.
3. Publicity Seeker - Trainer Steve Bossence
Owners: Richard J Thompson, London, Ont.; Stephen E Bossence, London, Ont.; Derek M Reid, Etobicoke, Ont.
This son of Muscle Mass was ultra impressive in eight seasonal starts as a two-year-old, winning five and sweeping two legs and the final of the Harvest Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park all while setting a mark of 1:55.2. He also was stakes-placed in the Champlain and earned $62,410 in his rookie campaign. He shows only one line at a half-mile track: a fifth-place finish at Flamboro Downs at long odds in an OSS Gold event, but one would think he wouldn't be kept eligible if getting around a half-mile track was of any concern.
4. Meadowview Lilly - Trainer Mark Etsell
Owner: Meadowview Farms Inc, Orono, Ont.
The Archangel lass was very impressive in just six seasonal starts in her rookie campaign, posting a win and four on-the-board finishes while stashing $78,430 for her connections. That record included picking up a cheque for $30,000 from a third-place finish in the $250,000 OSS Gold Final for two-year-old trotting fillies. Trainer Etsell is a Hanover native who knows the oval as well as anyone. She's an intriguing filly to keep eyes on.
5. Highland Mowgli - Trainer Amanda Fine
Owners: Amanda M Fine, Guelph, Ont.; Highland Thoroughbred Farm, Inglewood, Ont.
An impressive son of Archangel who had a banner two-year-old season, winning twice and posting six top-three finishes in 10 starts, setting a mark of 1:57.2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and winning two OSS Grassroots events while also finishing fourth in the Grassroots final. He raced exclusively at Woodbine Mohawk Park last season, so racing at a half mile track is a bit of an unknown, but the connections have given him a vote of confidence in keeping him eligible.
6. Doing It All - Trainer John Bax
Owner: Menhammar Stuteri Ab, Paris, Ky.
Doing It All did quite a bit in her rookie campaign, winning twice in eight starts and chalking five top-three finishes. The Kadabra lass found a half-mile track to her liking, winning OSS Grassroots events at both Hanover Raceway and Flamboro Downs. She also finished a strong second in the Grassroots final at Woodbine Mohawk Park, trotting her own mile in 1:57.4. Trainer Bax has won the Dream of Glory final four times with his charges, so he knows what it takes to get the job done in this race.
7. Arch Hall - Trainer Blake MacIntosh
Owners: Hutt Racing Stable, Malvern, Penn., Blake C Macintosh, St. George, Ont.; Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Magog, Que.
An impressive-looking son of Archangel, the rookie impressed in eight seasonal starts in his rookie campaign, winning three times and posting five top-three performances while earning $36,392 for his connections. He won his Balanced Image Elimination at Hanover Raceway, but was unfortunately scratched sick from the final. He earned his way to the OSS Grassroots final only to make a break and finish 10th. With some maturation, he has to be considered a legitimate contender among the nominees.
8. Tipsy In Dixie - Trainer Harry Poulton
Owner: Thestable Tipsy In Dixie, Guelph, Ont.
She was a nice find for TheStable.ca and her connections, as the Muscle Mass filly was plucked as a yearling for $13,000 at the Lexington Select Sale. The modest yearling purchase has had an excellent return to her owners, as she went on to post three wins and two seconds in seven starts, earning $57,475. Among her wins were three OSS Grassroots events, including a dominant four-and-three-quarter length score at Hanover Raceway among them. She looks every bit the part of a strong threat for the Dream of Glory crown.
9. Diehard Seelster - Trainer Shawn Steacy
Owners: Mark Steacy, Lansdowne, Ont.; Natasha N Rivest, Brantford, Ont.; Guy E Haskell, Guelph, Ont.
The Wheeling N Dealin colt was a consistent threat in his five starts as a two-year-old, although winless, registering three seconds and a third. One of his second-place finishes and his biggest pay day was in the Balanced Image Final behind Sweet Soul David, with trainer Shawn Steacy driving him. That enabled him to put away $26,593. He had the look of a horse that with another year of maturity and learning could really take a step forward. Trainer Steacy won last year's Dream of Glory with Remember The Titans, so he knows what it takes to win this race.
10. Day At The Gym - Trainer Carl Jamieson
Owner: Carl R Jamieson, Puslinch, Ont.
The Muscle Mass colt surfaced last year for only two qualifiers and one start, winning in all including a field of trotting maidens at Woodbine Mohawk Park that he crushed by six-and-a-half lengths in 1:58.2 in December. A $40,000 yearling purchase at Lexington, trainer Jamieson has staked the youngster very solidly, and he's passed his tests with flying colours to date. It wouldn't be a huge stretch to imagine this youngster as a strong stakes colt.
11. C My Kicks Hanover - Trainer Luc Blais
Owner: Determination, Montreal, Que.
The Wheeling N Dealin colt showed flashes of ability last year, notching two third-place finishes in six starts. He trotted to a 1:58.2 third-place finish at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and the connections seemed to be careful with him in allowing him to learn and get some experience. He put away $15,968 in earnings for Determination and with some improvement, could be on the road to the Dream of Glory.
12. Tymal Chrome - Trainer Anthony Beaton
Owner: Busi Racing, Sault Ste Marie, Ont.
The Muscle Mass gelding was a consistent threat every time he raced last season, chalking two wins and five third-place finishes in nine season starts. He also found Hanover Raceway to his liking, finishing third in the Balanced Image final. A $22,000 Harrisburg purchase, he returned $45,922 for his connections with a promising three-year-old campaign set to begin.
13. Rookie Season - Trainer Blake MacIntosh
Owner: Hutt Racing Stable, Malvern, Penn.
The Glidemaster gelding hit the board three times in seven starts, chalking $38,726 in earnings. His biggest problem was staying flat consistently as he showed five lines with breaks. That said, his talent was undeniable, finishing second and third in two OSS Gold events. For Rookie Season, his rookie season was erratic, but also promising. With some additional seasoning from trainer MacIntosh on how to stay trotting, he could vault into a very serious threat.
14. Mahone Seelster - Trainer Bruce MacDonald
Owner: Mardon Stables, Loretto, Ont.
The son of Muscle Mass was very lightly raced in his rookie campaign, racing just three times. But it's what he did in those starts that gives hope for a solid three-year-old season. He had a first, a second and a third in those three starts, all in non-winners of one at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and took a 1:59.1 mark. He's an outside contender, but is an interesting one to say the least.
15. Walkonthemoon - Trainer Mario Baillargeon
Owner: Thestable Walkonthemoon, Guelph, Ont.
The son of Archangel racing under TheStable.ca banner showed lots of ability in his seven starts, albeit with no wins, one second and one third. He was placed in OSS Gold company and finished second in one event, and the connections thought enough of him to put him in an elimination of the William Wellwood and a division of the Champlain Stakes. He chalked $32,716 in all, which is nothing to sneeze at. With some maturity over the winter, he could be a horse to be reckoned with in this edition of the Dream of Glory.
Honourable Mentions: Charmbo Princess, Moscow Moon, Top of the Bar
(Hanover Raceway)