Sitting a pocket trip, Mister Muscle sat at the pylons until the top of the stretch when he fanned wide of dueling leaders Magic Night and Scene A Magician and pounced to the lead in the final strides to win the $71,400 Dream of Glory Trot on Saturday, August 5 at Hanover Raceway.
Magic Night set the pace for the entirety of the mile, trotting a :28 quarter before Scene A Magician pulled first over from sixth and initiated his pursuit for the lead. After a :58.4 half, Scene A Magician drew towards Magic Night's wheel and pressured the leader through a 1:28.3 third quarter. At the top of the stretch, Mister Muscle, having drafted behind the leaders from the pocket, moved off the rail and lunged down the center of the track to narrowly win in 1:58.3, while Scene A Magician held second and Magic Night faded to third.
Winning his third race in 17 starts, Mister Muscle, a three-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass from the Angus Hall mare Oaklea Rae, pushed his career earnings to $133,233. Owned by trainer Mark Etsell with partners Robert Newton and Chuan Tan and driven by Bob McClure, he paid $5.80 to win.
"The only concern was getting out, but luckily I squeezed my way out of that last turn, and when he shook free, there was a lot in the tank," Bob McClure said. "He really kicked it into gear and I really felt I had it in the bag.
"[Mark Etsell and partners] are from around here and they've tried to win this race for a long time. Me and Mark talked about it on our way here--he's had to scratch two favourites out of this final, so it was nice that he finally drew the rail and got the favourite in the final.
"For me, I started here; this is my favorite track ever, I love this place; the whole town. I've tried to win this race for a long time; I think the first time I was in here was either 2011 or 2012. Ryan Holliday, Travis Henry, Scott Young and I all started here and it's a great starting place. This race has eluded me for so long and this was on my bucket list."
Kicking off the entertainment on Dream Of Glory Night at Hanover Raceway Saturday, three-year-old pacing filly Shewearsthepants cruised to both her sixth straight victory and the top of the division standings.
Starting from Post 4 driver Mike Saftic of Campbellville, ON sent Shewearsthepants straight to the front and the heavy favourites never faced a challenge, cruising through fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:26.3 on their way to a 1:56.2 victory. Stellenbosch finished three and one-quarter lengths back in second, with Fading Shadow on her heels in third.
“She ended up winning easy,” said trainer Gregg McNair. “She raced good. She’s really, I hope she stays the same, she’s right on her game right now.”
McNair, a Walkerton native who currently resides in rural Guelph, ON, trains Shewearsthepants for Anatolia Farm LLC of New Holland, PA, who also bred the daughter of Big Jim and Simply Liz. Through 12 starts this season the filly has tallied seven wins, one second and one third for earnings of $70,220.
With three wins and one second in four Grassroots starts Shewearsthepants now has a total of 175 points and sole ownership of top spot in the division standings, 17 points ahead of Manhattan Play.
Bid Writer earned her first win of the season in the second $18,450 Grassroots division, going gate-to-wire from Post 1 for driver Bob McClure of Elora, ON. The Sportswriter daughter hit the finish three and one-quarter lengths ahead of Kloof Street and Style Snapshot in 1:57.2.
Jeff Gillis of Everett, ON conditions Bid Writer for Mac Nichol of Burlington, ON and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY. The filly, a winner of $159,128 at two, started her Ontario Sires Stakes season at the Gold Series level and was making just her second appearance in the Grassroots. She was the runner-up in her division in the July 21 event at Mohawk Racetrack.
The final Grassroots contest, worth $18,800, went to Treasures Pearl, who powered up the outer lane to a one-half length victory in 1:57.4. C Mary, who served as a wind break for Treasures Pearl, and Diamondtoothgertie, who did all the work on the front end, settled for second and third.
“The trip worked out absolutely perfect,” said driver Nick Steward, who piloted the filly from the trailing Post 8. “When Bruce (Richardson) landed in front of me I knew his horse (C Mary) was one of the better horses in the race and a good one to follow. I didn’t have to move until the head of the stretch and, the trip was just too good, she did the rest of the work.”
London resident Steward crafted the win for trainer Ron Adams of LaSalle and owner-breeder Donald Leschied of South Woodslee, ON. The win was the Sportswriter daughter’s second straight and her first in Grassroots action this season. She was a three-time Grassroots winner as a two-year-old.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from the OSS)