Thanks to some pretty crafty driving by Doug McNair, Publicity Seeker claimed front-page status on Saturday afternoon's (July 31) card at Hanover Raceway with a 1:57.3 score in the $56,200 Dream Of Glory Trot, the track's signature event for Ontario-Sired sophomore trotters.
Flanked by Sweet Soul David and Tipsy In Dixie in a battle royale to the first turn, Publicity Seeker and McNair retreated to third on the backstretch before quarter-moving to command at the end of a :28 first split. The son of Muscle Mass then rated a :57.3 half before facing intensifying first-over pressure up the backstretch from Tipsy In Dixie, whom James MacDonald reactivated from third with seven-sixteenths to go.
After being nudged past three-quarters in 1:27.4, Publicity Seeker successfully shrugged off Tipsy In Dixie in upper stretch — but Sweet Soul David loomed in the pocket and was ready to take aim. Sylvain Filion only found room to switch Sweet Soul David off the pegs in the final sixteenth, but Publicity Seeker found the line in ample time, keeping Sweet Soul David a length at bay. Tipsy In Dixie finished an isolated third.
Publicity Seeker has won seven of his 13 races to date, all of them for trainer Stephen Bossence, who shares ownership with breeder Richard Thompson and Derek Reid.
McNair also won the $10,000 Gail Murray Invitational Pace, providing Sir Pugsley ($4.80) with a patient steer from off the pace. McNair kept the seven-year-old American Ideal entire in mid-division while Casimir Swamp Girl and Randomirogeo scuffled through a :56.3 first half, and then sent him three-wide up the backstretch past the tiring leaders. After widening to a two-length lead off the home turn, Sir Pugsley kept the stretch-pacing Pembroke Legacy N (Lorne House) 1-1/4 lengths at bay in 1:54.4. Pro Beach (Filion) finished third.
Patrick Shepherd trains 34-time winner Sir Pugsley for Robert Woodburn.
COSA TV's coverage of the Dream Of Glory Trot and the Gail Murray Invitational Pace can be viewed on tape delay below.
For Saturday afternoon's complete results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hanover Raceway.