Driver Bob McClure made a splash in his limited action on Hambletonian Day by blowing up the toteboard with 50-1 trotting mare Dream Together in the $154,800 Dr. John R. Steele Memorial for older trotting mares.
A field of nine trotting mares went postward with the majority of the public support behind trotting star Ariana G, saddled with the outside post nine. Driver Yannick Gingras had Ariana G out and driving for the lead, clearing to the front confortably ahead of Emoticon Hanover (Dan Dube), with Broadway Donna (David Miller) and Dream Together comprising the top four. Caprice Hill was up and driving first over through a rated :55 half, making it to within a half-length of the leader by the 1:23.3. third panel. A break from second-over challenger Checkmate Time gave room for Miller to right-line Broadway Donna, with McClure on Miller's helmet into the stretch.
The trotters fanned five-wide as the wire approached with Dream Together widest of all and fastest home, hitting the wire a quarter-length ahead of Broadway Donna in a lifetime best 1:51.3. Caprice Hill raced valiantly and completed the triactor.
Luc Blais trains Dream Together (Muscle Hill - Danae) for Determination of Montreal, Que. Not missing a cheque in 10 seasonal starts, Dream Together sports a 2-2-1 summary and swells her bankroll to $648,860 with the stakes win.
Be sure to check out the rest of the coverage from Hambletonian Day in the 2018 Hambletonian Day News Centre.