Driver Steve Byron piloted both winners of the two $7,500 Dream Of Glory eliminations at Hanover Raceway for trainer John Bax on Saturday, July 28.
Byron won the first elimination with Delcrest Holiday off a stalking trip in 1:59.1. Sitting off Gotta Pay To Play as he set fractions of :29, :58.3 and 1:28.2, Delcrest Holiday rallied off his rail trip past pocket-sitter Henderson Seelster and the pacesetter to win by a half-length. Gotta Pay To Play finished second with Henderson Seelster third and Edstone trailing throughout in fourth. Stpattysday, losing stride past the quarter, did not make the final.
A gelding by Holiday Road out of the Kadabra mare Northern Kitti, Delcrest Holiday, owned by Bax Stable, Sharon and Ken Bax and John Houston, won his second race in eight starts this season and his third in 17 overall, earning $40,933. The John Bax trainee returned $11.70 to win.
Sicario won the second elimination going wire to wire as the 6-5 favourite in 2:00.2.
Leaving from post four, Sicario led second-choice Joey Bats through a :29.4 opening quarter and a 1:01.3 half before experiencing pressure moving into the backstretch. Joey Bats pursued Sicario from first over, positioned three-quarter lengths off the lead through a 1:31.4 third-quarter and drawing closer to the front into the stretch. Though Sicario edged away to a one-and-a-quarter length victory over Joey Bats at the wire with Leaderofthepack riding the rail for third and Miller Time passing breaker Daylon Phantom for fourth.
Owned by Bax Stable and Dave Hudson, Sicario, a gelding by Holiday Road out of the Balanced Image mare Gypsy Balance, won his seventh race in 17 starts, earning $66,134. He paid $4.40 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.