A pair of $8,000 Dream Of Glory eliminations went to the gate on Saturday afternoon, July 27 at Hanover Raceway as the field sets up for next week's $50,000 stakes final.
The Dream Of Glory is open to Ontario-sired three-year-old trotting colts and fillies in 2024 that were non-winners of $75,000 (fillies $100,000) in 2023. The lucrative final takes place on Saturday, Aug. 3 at Hanover with the elimination winners drawing inside. Colts and fillies race together with the top four from each elimination advancing to the final.
Captain Wania (pictured above) was the fastest elimination winner with a 1:59.3 clocking for the husband and wife, driver and trainer team of Trevor and Shannon Henry.
Trevor Henry settled Captain Wania in third off the gate as Birthday Money (Todd Ratchford) and No One (Bruce Richardson) duelled to the :27.4 quarter. No One secured the lead with the inside advantage, pocketing Birthday Money with Captain Wania following to the :57.3 half and 1:28.1 three-quarters. Henry tipped Captain Wania out before the third quarter pole and advanced on the outside with Arcadia Seelster (Doug McNair) moving up on his cover. Battling down the stretch, Captain Wania dug in to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.3 over Arcadia Seelster. No One was third and Birthday Money finished fourth.
Captain Wania (Resolve-Miss Everything) is owned by Trevor Henry Stables Inc., James Fleming and David Hudson. The gelding was unraced as a two-year-old and has competed in 18 races to date earning $76,188 with six wins, two seconds and a third. He was sent out as the race favourite and returned $4.30 to win.
Magic Dealer was victorious in the other elimination in 2:00.1 for trainer Paul Walker.
Magic Dealer left from post three with Samuel Fillion guiding the way. They gave way to Alexander (Todd Ratchford) through the opening quarter in :29 before sweeping back to the front. Magic Dealer maintained his lead through splits in 1:00 and 1:29.2 while rebuffing first-over challenger Radical Legacy (Doug McNair) down the backstrech the final time, then eased home in :30.4 to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:00.1. Poof (Thomas Smith) charged home from the backfield to grab second while Radical Legacy settled for third. Mass Cara (Trevor Henry) rounded out the top four.
Oaklea Farm Inc. bred and owns the gelded son of Wheeling N Dealin out of the Kadabra mare Oaklea Wand. Unraced as a freshman, Magic Dealer now sports a record of 3-2-0 from six career outings, yielding earnings of $30,825. He paid $3.90 to win as the bettors' choice.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)