As the temperature heats up, racetracks across the province are seeing the latest crop of Ontario-sired talent emerge, and Hanover Raceway is no exception
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The half-mile oval will host four $24,000 Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old trotting colts this Saturday, July 9. Three of the starters will hail from Wayne Henry’s barn, part of a 16 strong group of freshmen the Arthur resident will campaign this season.
“If you aren’t busy this time of year, you did something wrong all winter,” points out the longtime horseman.
“I had 14 in Florida, and there was, I’ll say, three up here, and I’ve only got three left,” he adds. “One I quit with a long time ago, but the other two, they should be done within a week or two.”
Of Henry’s freshman crop, Mo Debra, JLs Times R Good and Blisss Little Duke are heading to Hanover for Saturday night’s Grassroots season opener. Mo Debra will lead off for the Henry Stable from Post 3 in the second race, and his trainer-driver is hoping for a solid effort from the son of Kadabra-Armbro Debbie.
“He’s been pretty good all the way along. He has a bit of an attitude,” says the trainer.
The Henry Stable and Dan McCann of Parkhill purchased Mo Debra out of the Canadian Yearling Sale last fall, writing a $19,000 cheque for the then ridgling. After enjoying the winter in Florida, Mo Debra schooled once at Hanover on June 29, making a couple of breaks, and then laid down a solid line in qualifying action at Mohawk Racetrack two days later with the assistance of a pair of trotting hopples.
“He is fast enough I think, it’s just his manners are his biggest problem,” says Henry of the colt.
Stablemates JLs Times R Good and Blisss Little Duke did not have the advantage of a Florida vacation, learning their lessons at home in Arthur with Wayne’s brother Trevor. But both colts will benefit from Post 1 in their Grassroots debut - JLs Times R Good in the fourth race and Blisss Little Duke in the sixth.
“That’s always a bonus, especially on a half,” says Henry of the colts’ advantageous post positions.
Kaye Laverty of Sauble Beach owns JLs Times R Good and Blisss Little Duke. Both colts were bred by her late husband, James, who passed away in April.
Among the colts Mo Debra will tackle on Saturday is Happy Trails Sonny, who was bred and raised at Gwendolyn McNair’s Walkerton farm. McNair’s son Gregg trains the colt and shares ownership on the offspring of Son Of Grace-G G Dandy.
Like Mo Debra, Happy Trails Sonny required a set of trotting hopples to log a solid qualifying effort, touring the Grand River Raceway oval in 2:08 on July 4.
“That’s all he needs,” hopes Gwendolyn McNair. “They’re hot breds; his mother was that same way.
“He was born here, his mother was born here and his father was born here,” she adds. “He’s named after Son Of Grace and Trail Boss, they both died in 2009.”
Walkerton native Randy Fritz will steer Happy Trails Sonny from Post 5 in Saturday’s second race, and McNair is looking forward to catching the colt in action after spending much of the spring laid up with a broken arm.
“I can drive with one hand,” she says with a chuckle. “At least with the second race, the pressure will be off early.”
Post time for Hanover Raceway’s Saturday evening program is 7:15 p.m., and the two-year-old trotting colts will show off their skills in Races 2, 4, 6, and 8.
In addition to taking in the Grassroots action on Saturday, Hanover Raceway fans can participate in the first night of the Ontario Sires Stakes program’s Win The Thrill promotion - by filling out a ballot that could eventually lead them to a share in the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association (SBOA) New Owner Mentoring program.
On Saturday Win The Thrill winners will earn a betting voucher and a shot at the Grand Prize Draw, which takes place Grassroots Championship night at Mohawk Racetrack on Oct. 1. The contest runs all summer long, and Hanover fans will have two more opportunities to play - August 6 and September 3. Ballots and complete details about the exciting Win The Thrill promotion are available in the official Hanover Raceway program.
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To view entries for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Hanover Raceway.