One week after capturing the $100,000 Dream Of Glory, three-year-old trotting colt Traverse Seelster returned to Hanover Raceway and picked up his third straight victory over the half-mile oval
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Starting from Post 5 in the last of six Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions, driver Doug Brown sent Traverse Seelster straight to the front. The Angus Hall gelding rolled through fractions of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:28 and then dug hard in the stretch to hold off Big Strike and secure a three-quarter length victory in 1:57.1. Herecomesthechief was five lengths behind the leaders in third.
Frank O’Reilly trains Traverse Seelster for Quebec owner Franco Cianci of St-Laurent, Isidoro Russo of Montreal and Vincenzo Monticciolo of Laval. Through 11 starts this season, the gelding has accumulated seven wins, two seconds and two thirds, earning $127,720.
Undefeated since early June, Traverse Seelster is currently aboard a six race win streak, and is flawless in three Grassroots starts, as are his division co-leaders Count Strike and Frill Seeker, who were both easy winners in their divisions at Hanover.
In the third $24,000 split, Count Strike rolled along on the front unchallenged, reaching the wire one and one-quarter lengths ahead of Duke Of Glory. Twin B Herbie was three more lengths back in third.
The 1:59.3 victory was Count Strike’s 10th of the season through 14 starts and boosted his bankroll to $72,970. Wayne Preszcator of Exeter, Ont. trains the chestnut son of Striking Sahbra for his partners Harness Racing Canada 12 of Ajax, Ont., Shawn Dixon of London, Ont., and William Seplowe of Westbury, New York, and Bruce Richardson engineered the victory from Post 4.
One race later Doug Brown and Frill Seeker made it look just as easy from Post 6, rolling up to take the lead heading for the half and cruising home two and one-half length winners in 1:57.4. Tymal Colossus and High Stakes Banker trotted into second and third.
The runner-up to Traverse Seelster in the Dream Of Glory, Frill Seeker is owned by Ebbsfleet Stables of Stratford, Ont. and trained by Ron Waples Jr. The Angus Hall son has tallied five wins, two seconds and one third in nine starts this season, banking just shy of $80,000.
Major Herbie edged up the Grassroots standings with his second provincial victory of the season on Saturday. The Here Comes Herbie son and trainer-driver Wayne Henry bested Assignment and Shadowtothecrowned in the first Grassroots division, leading the way to a 1:59.1 score.
The Henry Stable of Arthur, Ont. and Dan McCann of Parkhill, Ont. share ownership of Major Herbie, who captured the Dream Of Glory Consolation last weekend.
Idle Time picked up his first victory of the year in the second division, reaching the wire two lengths ahead of Sir Tyson and Winbak Hall in 1:58.1. Karen Hudon piloted the Angus Hall son to the victory for trainer Joe Hudon Jr. of Acton, Ont. and his partners R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington, Ont. and Herbert Boggs of Duncan, B.C.
The other Grassroots trophy went home with Chuckalo Caden and Clare “Chuck” Thompson, who recovered from an early mistake to get up for a nose victory over P C La Mousse and favourite Mister Herbie. Sunderland, Ont. resident Thompson bred, trains and drives Chuckalo Caden, sharing ownership papers on the son of Mr Lavec with Rebecca Gratrix, also of Sunderland. Saturday’s 2:00.1 score was Chuckalo Caden’s first in five outings this season.
The three-year-old trotting colts make the fourth stop of their Grassroots campaign at Sudbury Downs on August 20, while Hanover Raceway fans will be treated to high speed Grassroots action from the two-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday, September 3.
In other action, the OHHA Youth Camp wrapped up on Saturday night at Hanover with a pair of exhibition races. Eight children took part in the camp, taking care of four retired standardbred horses for four days and learning about the health and care of race horses.
Hanover also hosted the ROMP Mascots, who participated in a 200 metre race. The host mascot, Black Beauty, named last year by Hanover Raceway fans, took home the trophy.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from OSS and Hanover Raceway)