This Saturday night Hanover Raceway hosts two-year-old trotters in four Balanced Image eliminations, which will determine a field for the $58,000 final
. The final will take place the following Saturday at Hanover to coincide with the all-trot card in place to honour the Walker family.
In the first Balanced Image trot elimination, trainer Gregg McNair sends out favourite Go Far from the rail, who finished third in an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division at Hiawatha her last start out, trotting a mile in 2:02. Not far behind her was Zorgwijk Katrina, owned, trained, and driven by Paul Walker of Owen Sound, who trotted in 2:03 and starts from post five. Starting from post three is Tortes Finale, trained by Gary Brown. She trotted a mile in 2:02.2 to capture fourth place in her Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division at Hiawatha also. Tortes Finale is one of the four fillies looking to go up against the boys and capture a berth into the Balanced Image final. Go Far, Oaklea Sydney, and Zorgwijk Katrina are the other three fillies entered.
Hava Kadabra is the even-money favourite in the second elimination. He trotted to a life's best 2:02 over Georgian Downs in an OSS Grassroots division, and trotted in 1:59.3 his last start out, finishing third. Gregg McNair and Randy Fritz team up again in the second division with Krakatoa, who trotted in 2:01.4 his last time out, starting from post one this time. Larry Walker sends out Leslie Road who qualified on Monday in a time of 2:02. Owner, trainer and driver Trevor Henry will look to guide Bare Knuckles, who was second in an OSS Grassroots at Georgian and third in an OSS Grassroots at Sudbury, to a victory this Saturday.
The third division hosts Zorgwijk Knight, the colt to beat in this elimination. He has two wins in three lifetime starts, with a lifetime mark of 2:01, capitalizing in an OSS Grassroots division at Georgian. He captured his second OSS Grassroots at Sudbury Downs his last start out, andwill look to capture his third lifetime win this Saturday en route to the Balanced Image final. Julians Caesar will look to earn his first lifetime win starting from post four. He trotted a mile in 2:02 and placed second in an OSS Grassroots over Georgian Downs a month ago.
The fourth and final elimination of the night will have favourite Boogie Woogie, trained and driven by Carl Jamieson, start from post four. This colt still managed to trot a mile in 2:02.2 in his last start after making a break and being parked half the mile. Puerta Vallarta will make his racing debut Saturday, coming off a second place finish in a Mohawk qualifier in 2:03.1. Larry Walker sends out his third Balanced Image trot contestant of the night, Horatio, who will have his third lifetime start. He trotted in 2:03 his first time out, capturing a fourth place finish in an OSS Grassroots division at Georgian Downs.
To view Saturday’s harness racing entries, click here.