Filly Stays Perfect In Balanced Image Elims

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Three $10,000 Balanced Image Trot eliminations for two-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes eligibles highlighted Saturday night’s all trot card at Hanover Raceway with Keystone Orion, Gus Is All Lane and filly Dayplanner on their best behaviour as they circled the sloppy track

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Driver Dave Boughton and Gus Is All Lane went wire-to-wire to win the next elimination in 2:07, holding off pocket-sitter Victoriacrest (Boughton) by a half-length. Proby (Larry Walker) recovered from an early break to finished third, six and three-quarter lengths behind, while a miscue took first over challenger and fan favourite Windsong Illusion (Scott Coulter) out of the race.

The bay colt paid $14 to win for the 6-1 upset. Trainer George Zirnis co-owns the son of Angus Hall-Eagle Lane, who is now two-for-six in his career, with Thomas Cousineau of Elmira, Ont.

The undefeated trotting filly, Dayplanner, and trainer-driver Paul Walker advanced to the top from third after the opening quarter and extended her lead to seven lengths by the stretch in the final elimination. The Oaklea Julian-Our Day daughter was untouchable as she cruised to the wire in 2:05.3, although her lead was shortened to four and three-quarter lengths by Southwind Nazareth (Scott Coulter). Le Beau Lavec (Trevor Ritchie) finished seven lengths behind in third.

Dayplanner paid $2.70 to win. Having won three previous Grassroots events, the bay filly is now four-for-four in her career for owner-breeder Brenda Walker of Owen Sound, Ont.

The $30,000 (added) final of the Balanced Image Trot will take place next Saturday, August 27 at Hanover Raceway.

In other action, Northern Spark was a gate-to-wire winner in the $15,000 Walker Memorial Invitational Trot, prevailing in 1:59.1 by two and a half lengths over Smokin Dabra (Stuart Sowerby) and Quantum Antonio (Mark Etsell).

The odds-on favourite paid $5.50 to win. The four-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall-Flame Tamer has earned top three finishes in half of his 22 starts this year to bank over $44,000 for trainer Ted MacDonell and owners Stake Your Claim Stable of Secaucus and John Petracci Jr. of Woodbury, New Jersey.

For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.

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