(Gregg McNair | Iron Horse Photo)
Three Grassroots divisions of sophomore pacing fillies will serve as the opening act on Hanover Raceway’s annual Dream Of Glory night this Saturday, August 5.
“It’s a big night,” said Walkerton, ON native Gregg McNair, who will send out two fillies in the Grassroots contest. “It’s a good spot; it’s a good atmosphere there all the time usually.”
The fillies will kick off the festivities in the first race, which goes in behind the starting gate at 6:15 pm, and will also battle in Races 4 and 7, warming up fans for the $71,400 Dream Of Glory Final for Ontario Sired three-year-old trotters in Race 10. 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 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 Guelph, ON. “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, ON resident Mike Saftic will steer both Shewearsthepants and Loves Angel for McNair, who shares ownership of Loves Angel with Jim Newton of Thornhill, ON and Kenneth Newton of Biggar, SK.
Three-year-old trotting filly Grassroots point leader Delcrest Magicstar is the early favourite in the Dream Of Glory Final for trainer Mark Steacy. The daughter of Majestic Son and 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 Race 10.
“She’s come round nicely this summer, maturing into a nice mare,” said Lansdowne, ON resident Steacy. “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 (Saturday).”
Clarke Steacy will steer Delcrest Magicstar for owners James MacDonald and Johnathan McKinnon of Guelph and Peter Porter of Port Dover, ON.
The other two elimination winners, Magic Night and Scene A Magician, will start from Post 5 and 8, respectively.
Former Walkerton resident Mark Etsell will send out Mister Muscle from Post 1 for his partners Robert Newton of Walkerton and Chuan Tan of Cambridge, ON. 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, ON resident Bob McClure will steer Mister Muscle for the owner-breeders.
“They’ve had horses a long time that bunch, I don’t know if they’ve win that before or not,” said McNair of Mister Muscle’s connections. “Definitely, if you’re from up around there, that’s the race you’d like to win.”
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 visit http://hanoverraceway.com/dream-glory-day/.
In addition to Saturday’s Ontario Sires Stakes event, Hanover Raceway will also host the three-year-old trotting colts in their fifth Grassroots test on Saturday, August 26. The August 26 program also features the Balanced Image Trot Final for two-year-old Ontario Sired trotters.
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