A compact field of six will line up behind the gate Friday night (July 5) at Hazel Park Raceway for the William Connors Memorial prep race.
The race highlights a holiday card that will be capped off by the track’s annual fireworks display following the races.
With just a half-dozen three-year-old trotters entered for the 14th renewal of the race named for the late Hall of Fame race secretary, all move directly into the $100,000 final which is scheduled for Friday night (July 12) at the suburban Detroit racetrack.
Drawing Post 1 in Friday’s prep is Powerful Poe, who has two wins in seven starts this year and is coming into the race off a second-place finish in the Hanover on June 29 at Balmoral Park. Trained by Dirk Simpson, the son of Powerful Emotion’s seven wins last year included the $119,000 Lincoln Land final as well as the finals of the Hanover and Cardinal at Balmoral.
Powerful Poe is the richest of the entrants with $184,778 in earnings for owners Mystical Marker Farms and Jack and Peggy Hood.
Theatrical Session, a winner of a Scioto River Series elimination at Scioto Downs and then second in the final on June 28, will start from Post 2 in the prep. Chris Beaver trains Theatrical Session and shares ownership with David Lang, Steven Shelton and James Gallagher. The $80,050-winning son of Broadway Hall also has fourth-place finishes in both the Currier & Ives and Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at the Meadows this year.
The remainder of the Connors prep field, in post position order, is: Torino Seelster, Longwell, Sir James and Voodoo Victor.
Friday night’s program will begin with a special first-race post time of 6:30 p.m. The Connors prep is scheduled as the ninth race, with an approximate post time of 9:10 p.m. The 12-race card is scheduled to conclude around 10:30 p.m., with the fireworks taking place shortly afterward.
Admission and parking are free at Hazel Park. Also on Friday night, programs, hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn will be just $1 each, with 16-ounce draft beer for $2.
(Hazel Park)