A co-ed group of sophomores made the trek to Hanover Raceway’s half-miler on Saturday evening to butt heads in the eliminations of the Dream Of Glory, and when the dust settled it was Absynthe Hanover, Knight Angel and Cool Clifford coming away victorious in the respective assignments.
Trotting filly Absynthe Hanover upset odds-on favourite Raising Royalty in the first elimination.
Scott Young got away third with the Luc Blais trainee, who watched Raising Royalty forge his way to the front and then slice out fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.4. Young asked his charge to go first-over on the way to the three-quarter pole, and she then used a :29.2 closing panel to win by a half-length margin over Raising Royalty in 1:59.4. Debt Collector tagged along to finish third in the $7,500 affair.
Determination of Montreal, QC owns the daughter of Kadabra-Anonyme Hanover. The filly went from having an 0-for-2 rookie season to a 6-for-8 sophomore campaign which is far from over. Her lifetime earnings stand at $48,904 going into next week’s final.
Knight Angel was heavily favoured in his $7,500 elimination, and he lived up to the hype by virtue of his blowout score in 1:58.2 for driver Bruce Richardson.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the son of Archangel-Dream Taker got away third from the rail while Scarlett Raider motored to the top and carved out first-half fractions of :29.3 and 1:00.1. Richardson had Knight Angel out and driving on the way to the half, and they showed a short lead by the time the three-quarter pole flashed up in 1:29. After the big third quarter move, the gelding then used a :29.2 final frame to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Scarlett Raider. Royal Rhythm took home third prize.
Trainer Shane Arsenault co-owns Knight Angel with Justin Fisher, Gary Leeming and Giuseppe Mascia. After a 1-for-8 freshman year, the gelding has stepped up with a 3-0-1 record from nine trips to the track this season. His lifetime earnings stand at just shy of $117,000.
Cool Clifford captured the final elimination, and just like the winners in the first two eliminations – he used come-from-behind tactics to secure the victory.
Paul MacKenzie got away third with the Scott McEneny trainee while King For Life hustled to the lead and supplied the group with first-half fractions of :29.2 and 1:00.3. MacKenzie put Cool Clifford into play going to the half, and they worked their way to the lead as the field zipped past the three-quarter pole in 1:29.2. A :29.2 closing quarter earned Cool Clifford the win by 1-3/4 lengths over Magical Journey in 1:58.4. Race favourite Jumpshot rallied from last to finish third in the six-horse affair.
Brad Grant and Martwest Racing Stable share ownership on the son of Kadabra-Cool Creek. The gelding, who went 2-for-11 last year, is now 2-for-6 this season. His elimination victory pushed his lifetime earnings over $100,000.
The post position draw for next Saturday’s final was conducted following the eliminations, and listed below is how the field will line up in that rich tilt:
$64,100 Dream Of Glory Final
1. Magical Journey
2. Debt Collector
3. Raising Royalty
4. Knight Angel
5. Cool Clifford
6. Absynthe Hanover
7. Jumpshot
8. Scarlett Raider
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hanover Raceway.