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A trio of $6,000 Balanced Image Stakes eliminations for Ontario-sired two-year-old trotters highlighted the 10-race Saturday, Aug. 17 card at Hanover Raceway, with Mark Etsell trainees Shutter Green and Sound N Vision securing victories, along with The Governor from the Walter Whelan barn.
The Governor was up first, with Michael Whelan doing the driving in the afternoon's second race. Leaving from post four, The Governor quickly grabbed command, leading the field of seven to the quarter in :31.1. The pace slowed to the half in 1:04.2 before Captain Suzuki (Tyler Jones) applied pressure to the leader's wheel at three-quarters in 1:34.2. The two continued to battle to the wire, with The Governor reaching the wire first a half-length clear in 2:04.3 over Captain Suzuki.
The victory was the first in four career starts for The Governor who has banked $12,000. The homebred son of Muscle Mass-Just For Me Nu is owned by Felix Marion.
Shutter Green teamed up with driver Bob McClure to utilize similar front-end tactics in the second division. Starting from post six, McClure patiently waited for the dust to settle on the first turn before moving to the lead at the quarter in :31.2. McClure tapped the brakes to the half in 1:04.1 before leading to three-quarters in 1:35.1. From there, Shutter Green trotted away from the field, powering clear by four lengths over TH Emmett (Travis Henry) in 2:05.2.
The Etsell trainee has won two of four on the season with each of those victories coming consecutively. Owned by Mark Etsell, Grant Turner, Peter Porter and Graham Hopkins, the son of Green Manalishi S-Perfect Summer K has earned $34,992.
The McClure and Etsell combo teamed up to win the third and fastest elimination with Sound N Vision (pictured above). McClure settled the even-money favourite in fourth early before tipping Sound N Vision first-over in third as First Class Rule (Todd Ratchford) led to the quarter in :30. Sound N Vision grabbed a short lead at the half in 1:01 before forging clear by 1-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:31.3. The lead for Sound N Vision would only continue to grow, trotting away by 4-1/2 lengths over First Class Rule in 2:02.4.
A winner in three of his last four, Sound N Vision has won three of five to begin his young career. Owned by Etsell, Terry Devos, Peter Porter and Denise Turner, the son of Royalty For Life-Tommi My Girl sports career earnings of $48,442.
Following the conclusion of the third elimination, the field was drawn for the Balanced Image final on Saturday, Aug. 24 and can be found below.
$40,000 Balanced Image Stakes
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Sound N Vision - Bob McClure - Mark Etsell
2. Captain Suzuki - Tyler Jones - Gregg McNair
3. The Governor - Michael Whelan - Walter Whelan
4. First Class Rule - Todd Ratchford - Matthew Bax
5. Shutter Green - Bob McClure - Mark Etsell
6. LMC Little Chips - Karl Tomas - Patrick Hudon
7. TH Emmett - Travis Henry - Matthew Trelford
8. Macthenight - Scott Young - Chad Hill
AE1. Marie H - Trevor Henry - Kyle Bossence
AE2. Nickel And Dime - Todd Ratchford - Matthew Bax
To view Saturday's results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)