Delcrest Magicstar, the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots’ three-year-old trotting filly point leader, is the 2-1 second morning-line choice for $71,400 final of the Dream Of Glory (Race 10) this Saturday (August 5) at Hanover Raceway.
The Mark Steacy-trained daughter of Majestic Son-Stars Balance won her July 29 elimination by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:59.1 and will take aim on the title from Post 3 in the Dream Of Glory final, which has been carded as Race 10.
“She’s come ‘round nicely this summer, maturing into a nice mare,” Steacy, a resident of Lansdowne, Ont., told the Ontario Sires Stakes’ publicity arm. “She seems to get around a half-mile track well and drew a nice post position. She can race on front or behind, as she’s very versatile; with a little race luck she should do well (on Saturday).”
Clarke Steacy will steer Delcrest Magicstar for owners James MacDonald and Johnathan McKinnon of Guelph and Peter Porter of Port Dover, Ont.
The other two elimination winners, Magic Night and Scene A Magician, will start from Post 5 and 8, respectively. For more on the eliminations, click here.
Former Walkerton, Ont. resident Mark Etsell will send out the morning line favourite for the Dream Of Glory in Mister Muscle, who will start from Post 1 for his fellow owners Robert Newton of Walkerton and Chuan Tan of Cambridge, Ont. The Muscle Mass gelding finished second to Delcrest Magicstar from Post 6 in the elimination round and will be looking to improve on that result from the rail. Elora, Ont. resident Bob McClure will steer Mister Muscle for the owner-breeders.
Area horseman Gregg McNair, who will send out starters for the card’s OSS events, commented on Mister Muscles’ owners, stating, “They’ve had horses a long time that bunch, I don’t know if they’ve [won] that before or not. Definitely, if you’re from up around there, that’s the race you’d like to win.”
Three OSS Grassroots divisions of sophomore pacing fillies will serve as the opening act on the Dream Of Glory night card.
“It’s a big night,” said McNair, who will send out two fillies to contest the Grassroots. “It’s a good spot (Hanover Raceway); it’s a good atmosphere there all the time, usually.”
The fillies will kick off the festivities in the first race (which will head in behind the starting gate at 6:15 p.m.) and will also battle in Races 4 and 7, which will warm fans up for the Dream Of Glory final. McNair trainee Shewearsthepants will start from Post 4 in the first $18,450 Grassroots division and comes into the event on a five-race win streak.
“She’s been good, hasn’t seemed to matter how she’s raced, in front or out of a hole,” said McNair. “She’s a tough mare to handle warming up and even jogging at home and stuff, but if you get her in a race she’s been all right, so far anyway.”
McNair conditions Shewearsthepants for owner-breeder Anatolia Farm LLC of New Holland, PA. In 11 starts this season, the daughter of Big Jim and Simply Liz has tallied six wins, one second and one third for earnings of $60,995. She currently sits second in the three-year-old pacing filly Grassroots standings with 125 points from two wins and one second.
Stablemate Loves Angel occupies the fourth spot in the standings with 76 points earned from one win, one second and one eighth-place result in the first three Grassroots events. The daughter of Big Jim and Moss Blue Chip will be looking for a return to winning form from Post 5 in the second division.
“She’s looked real competitive at times. She got her feelings hurt pretty bad in that race in Clinton there (July 9, Kin Pace final). She got the two-hole behind Mark Horner’s filly and she hasn’t been quite as good since then,” noted McNair, who currently resides outside of Guelph, Ont. “We trained her this morning (Wednesday), she trained good, seemed like she’s nice and fresh, so we’ll go from there I guess.”
Campbellville, Ont. resident Mike Saftic will steer both Shewearsthepants and Loves Angel for McNair, who shares ownership of Loves Angel with Jim Newton of Thornhill, Ont. and Kenneth Newton of Biggar, SK.
In addition to the on track action, Hanover Raceway fans will also enjoy a Rooftop Barbecue, live music from the Crippled Ducks and a BEM Fireworks display 20 minutes after the evening’s final race. For more information about Dream Of Glory Night, click here.
In addition to Saturday’s OSS event, Hanover will also host the three-year-old trotting colts in their fifth Grassroots test on Saturday, August 26. The August 26 program will also feature the final of the Balanced Image Trot for two-year-old Ontario Sired trotters.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Hanover, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Hanover Raceway.
(With files from the OSS)