It was a picture perfect night for Hanover Raceways 15th annual Dream of Glory. Close to 3,000 harness racing fans attended setting what may be a Dream of Glory record handle of almost 67,000 dollars.
On the track, Hanover played host to 5 divisions of 3 year old Colt pacers competing in the Ontario Sires Stakes as well as the $67,500 dollar final of the Dream of Glory Trot.
In the Dream of Glory, first elimination winner Wildwildmen jumped out to a quick lead heading into the first turn, while second elimination winner Smoke Monkey made a break from post 7.
PC Cantore tucked in behind Robert Shepherd and Wildwildmen, while the rest of the field battled for position. Wildwildmen hit the quarter pole first in 29.1 and the half in 59.4. Chestnut Schofield with driver Keith Jones managed to get into second position ahead of Peter Clements and PC Cantore at the half, but couldn’t hold the pace on the outside and faded out of contention by the 3/4 pole, still led by Wildwildmen in 1:29. Wildwildmen continued to lead past the finish line with Robert Shepherd holding his whip in the air, winning by 2 lengths in 1:58.2.
PC Cantore and driver/trainer/owner Peter Clements was second, while Very Classy and Ross Battin finished third for part owner and trainer John Bax of Campbellville.
Wildwildmen is owned by Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel of Quebec who were part of a large entourage who chanted Wild Wild Men as their horse entered the Hanover winners circle.
After the race, Driver Robert Shepherd credited his girlfriend Isabelle Darveau for getting the horse ready saying he was confident in what the horse and his trainer could do.
Shepherd said the 3 year old son of Muscle Mass did just as he was expected, and was very happy with the outcome.
In Sires Stakes action, the winners were Kokanee Seelster in 1:56 for driver Alfie Carroll and owners Ming Siu of Richmond,BC and Ed Lui,of Parkhill,ON.
Division 2 was won by Daylight Rush in 1:55.4 for driver Billy Davis Jr and owner Trainer Blake Mcintosh and the Hutt Racing Stable.
Leg 3 was won by Blue Zombie in 1:55.1 for driver Brad Forward and owners West Wins Stable and Howard Taylor of Philadelphia.
Leg 4 was won by St Lads Moonwalk in 1:54.3 for driver Mike Saftic and owner/trainer Jack Darling of Cambridge, and the final OSS dash was won by OK Iceman in 1:56.3 for driver Billy Davis Jr, and owners Hudson Stables and Conrad Leber of Quebec.
GM Gord Dougan says it was an almost perfect night with a great crowd and handle, as well as a great band and fireworks and awesome team effort by all the staff.
Hanover plays host to the Ontario Sires Stakes again next Saturday August 6th as 2 year old Trotting fillies hit the track on Country 93 Night at the races and the Survivor finale.
One lucky fan will win a 55 inch Sony High Def TV courtesy of Country 93 radio and HDTV in Walkerton. Post time is 7:15pm.
Gord Dougan