Dream For Peace came charging on the outside to win the $150,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold fourth leg for sophomore male trotters, a race in which the first and second choices broke stride, on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Grand River Raceway.
Touchedbyanangel (Doug McNair), the 7-2 second favourite, pushed to the lead with a :27.1 opening split with Dream For Peace positioned fourth for Mark MacDonald. Strobe Lite (James MacDonald), the 1-5 chalk, pulled from third and strode to the top on the way to the :55.4 half. Touchedbyanangel galloped as Strobe Lite crossed over in front of him on the second turn, while Stormont Shanlyboy (Tyler Jones) started a brush from fifth.
Stormont Shanlyboy glided past the 2025 O’Brien Award winner and was pushed along by Jones to three-quarters in 1:26 as The Green Gazoo moved into range first-over while towing Dream For Peace. Dream For Peace slid three-wide as they angled towards the lane, with Strobe Lite looking the other threat as the passing lane opened. But the latter went off stride, leaving Dream For Peace to glide clear to a 2-1/4-length victory in a career-best 1:54.4. The Green Gazoo finished gamely for second over Toss Of The Dice (Trevor Henry).
Dream For Peace, a homebred for Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que. and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, N.Y., took his first Gold win and his third victory overall this season in 13 starts. The Shawn Steacy-trained Muscle Mass-Dream For Lindy colt is four-for-18 lifetime and has earned $213,286. He paid $36.20 to win.
The card also featured four $30,000 divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Leg 3B for rookie trotting fillies. Shes Flexin ($13.40) closed off cover to take the opener in 1:58 for driver Tyler Borth and trainer Katelyn Graham. The Muscle Mass-Okayzoomer filly was making her career debut.
Sumluckylady ($7.80) stormed away after a first-over push for a 1:57.3 maiden victory in the second split. Mark MacDonald piloted the daughter of Muscle Mass-Superlative, now one-for-three, for trainer Joe Parkinson.
The undefeated Green Silverado ($3.30) is now four-for-four in Grassroots action after posting a 1:56.4 victory in the third split. The Green Manalishi S-Little Red Chev miss was driven by James MacDonald for trainer Matthew Trelford.
The stars aligned for Tymal Eclipse ($3.40) as the Green Manalishi S-Electrapedia filly crushed her fourth-division opponents on the same day a solar eclipse was visible in parts of the world. Scott Young was in the bike as the filly went to two-for-two for trainer Robert Young.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)