Heading into Hanover Raceway’s first Thursday night card of racing, Bob McClure held a .138 driver’s rating and only three wins on the 2012 meet. He broke out of that slump, however, winning five of his twelve drives on the card.
McClure started piling up his wins in the second race, taking the second half of the Daily Double behind the two-year old Mach Three gelding OK Ferrari for conditioner Bill Companion. The pacer took command at the midway point in his racing debut and never looked back, tripping the teletimer in 2:00.2.
Races three through twelve on the Thursday card were billed as the contest races for Pick 3 Fantasy Harness Racing contest and McClure had four winning trips, a second place effort and a third place finish, totaling 15 fantasy points. His four contest race victories came with Beach Dreams in race three, followed by three-in-a-row with Western Raydar, My Beautiful Doll and Taylorlane Frankie in races nine through eleven.
His ninth race win aboard Western Raydar came after a long first-over trip when the six-year old gelded son of Western Maverick overtook the front-stepping favourite Last Call Hanover and driver Scott Young. Western Raydar paced home in :29.3 for the 1:56.4 score, holding off a closing Auditorial who finished second, just ahead of Last Call Hanover.
Forty patrons took part in the first night of the contest which will run through the next two Thursday night cards at Hanover Raceway. The top eight point earners plus ties will then advance to the final on Saturday, July 28 when the Hanover track hosts the 11th annual Dream of Glory eliminations. A total of $175 in prizes will be up for grabs on that occasion. Full contest standings will be available shortly on the Hanover Raceway website and Facebook page.
Racing action continues Saturday with Hanover Raceway hosting the fourth leg of the Slots Cup, which features a pair of $15,000 divisions. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Hanover Raceway.
(Hanover Raceway)