The field is set for Hanover Raceway's signature Dream Of Glory Stakes for Ontario-sired three-year-old trotters after three eliminations were contested on Saturday afternoon, July 26.
The Dream Of Glory is for sophomore trotters that were non-winners of $75,000 (fillies $100,000) in 2024. The top two finishers from the three $8,000 eliminations plus two third-place finishers will advance to the $50,000 final next Saturday evening, Aug. 2.
The Governor won the first elimination with a career-best 1:59.4 performance for the father and son, training and driving team of Walter and Michael Whelan. Securing the lead from the inside post, he cruised through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:30 then held off the pocket-popping Sound N Vision (Travis Henry) to prevail by three-quarters of a length, paying $10.70 to win as the 4-1 third wagering choice. P C Chattahoochee (Jason Ryan) followed nearly four lengths behind in third and also advanced to the final.
Owned by Felix Marion of Cambridge, Ont., the homebred Muscle Mass-Just For Me Nu colt lowered his lifetime mark he held since winning an elimination of Hanover's Balanced Image Stakes last summer.
A two-time Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner this year, P L Spencer delivered as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite in the second and fastest elimination, clocked in 1:59 flat, with Bob McClure driving for trainer Stephen Bossence. After following loosely in third through opening panels of :28.4 and :59.1 in his Hanover debut, P L Spencer faced off with pacesetter Seeme Zoom (J Harris) at the 1:28.3 third quarter mark. Seeme Zoom fought back around the final turn and the top two took off from the rest of the field in the stretch with P L Spencer eventually trotting 1-1/4 lengths clear. He paid $2.10 to win and place, with no show wagering.
The Prince Lee Acres-bred gelding by Resolve out of P L Indyanaca is owned by Bossence and partners Richard Thompson of London, Ont., Derek Reid of Etobicoke, Ont., and E C S Racing of Rockford, Michigan.
The third elimination was won by First Class Rule with driver Todd Ratchford putting the Matt Bax trainee on the front out of post four and fighting off 4-5 favourite Go Blue (J.R. Plante) through the final lap. The 2-1 second choice set fractions of :29.3, 1:01.2 and 1:30.4 en route to a 2:00.1 victory by one length and paid $6.30 to win. Call Me Parker (Jason Ryan) got up for third in a show photo and took the last spot in next weekend's final.
First Class Rule, a multiple Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots winner who hit the board in last year's Balanced Image final, is owned by Bax Stable of Campbellville, Ont., breeder Glengate Farms of Erin, Ont., Gaelic Stable of Sharon, Ont., and Ronald Van Noort of Stouffville, Ont.
The post positions for the Dream of Glory final were drawn during the afternoon's card, with the elimination winners drawing for posts one through five. The draw results are below with elimination drivers listed.
$50,000 Dream Of Glory Stakes
Post - Horse - Elimination Driver - Trainer
1. The Governor - Michael Whelan - Walter Whelan
2. Seeme Zoom - J Harris - Lacey McCabe
3. P L Spencer - Bob McClure - Stephen Bossence
4. Call Me Parker - Jason Ryan - Ben Baillargeon
5. First Class Rule - Todd Ratchford - Matt Bax
6. P C Chattahoochee - Jason Ryan - Curtis Clements
7. Sound N Vision - Travis Henry - Mark Etsell
8.] Go Blue - J.R. Plante - Gregg McNair
Post time for the Dream Of Glory card next Saturday is 5:30 p.m., with Hanover Raceway hosting its annual fireworks display following the races at approximately 10:15 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of P L Spencer winning on July 26)