Four seven-horse eliminations for the Balanced Image Trot have been drawn and will headline this Saturday’s (August 22) program of live racing at Hanover Raceway.
The track’s general manager, Gord Dougan, has said that 183 horses were nominated to this year’s edition of the Balanced Image, which is the most in the race’s 11-year history. Also, the $77,800 final will be the highest purse yet for the two-year-old stakes event.
Among the two-year-olds taking part are a few horses with local connections. PC Foreign Affair is owned by Amy and Curtis Clements of Dobbinton. The colt has one win in three starts in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division (the win was clocked in 1:58 at Mohawk Racetrack). PC Foreign Affair will start from Post 5 in Race 2.
Race 8 has three local horses competing. Warrawee Rob is 18th in the OSS Grassroots standings with a win and a fourth-place finish from four starts. Trained by Heather Toll of Dungannon, the son of Angus Hall won his only start at Clinton Raceway back on July 19. The trio of Mark Etsell and Robert Newton of Walkerton and Chuan Tan of Kitchener has Major Muscle starting from Post 5. The filly by Muscle Mass has two second-place finishes and a third-place effort from five OSS starts. The third local horse in the dash is Dayliner, who is owned by Brenda Walker of Owen Sound and trained and driven by husband Paul Walker. The Muscle Mass filly has a second-place finish and a third-place finish after five starts in the OSS.
Among the other entrants, Chris Beaver has a trio of top contenders this year. Beaver is a part owner of Pukka, and he trains two others, including Mass Balance, who has a win in both the OSS Gold and the Grassroots this season. Mass Balance has already earned close to $56,000 for owners Synerco Ventures of Toronto.
Synerco Ventures also owns another Beaver trainee, Smoke Monkey, who is eighth in the OSS Gold standings with two second-place finishes and over $47,000 earned. Smoke Monkey will start from Post 4 in Race 4, while Mass Balance will start from Post 6 in Race 6.
First-race post time for Hanover’s Saturday card will be 7:15 p.m.
The top two finishers from each elimination will advance to the final. Post positions for the final will be drawn in front of the live crowd after Race 9 on Saturday night.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Hanover, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Hanover Raceway.
(With files from Hanover)