It's just under three months until Hanover Raceway kicks off its 2022 race season and about five months away from the eliminations of the track's signature race, the Dream of Glory.
The race is open to three-year-old Ontario-bred trotting colts and geldings with less than $75,000 in earnings last season and fillies with less than $100,000 in earnings.
Hanover Raceway had 79 horses remain eligible for this year's edition.
Along with a sizable purse, Hanover Raceway will also be awarding the winner an original framed art work of the winning horse's victory, created by famed artist Michelle Hogan, that will be a lifelong cherished keepsake for the winner.
Last year, Hanover Raceway's Winter Book rated both the winner (Publicity Seeker) and second-place finisher (Sweet Soul David) among the top three contenders for the race.
Understanding prognostication is an inexact science, especially with horses who may dramatically improve from last season or who didn't race last year and become a serious contender, Hanover has highlighted its top 15 contenders eligible for this year's race. No trainers were contacted for their feedback on their horses training back.
There is a treasure trove of top colts, geldings and fillies that make the 2022 Dream of Glory edition very compelling.
Here are the Top 15 contenders for Dream of Glory supremacy:
1. Sea Can
Trainer: Mark Etsell
Owners: Mark Etsell, Rockwood, Ont.; Terry Devos, Langton, Ont.; Peter Porter, Port Dover, Ont.
The three-year-old Muscle Mass gelding found Hanover Raceway to his liking last season, picking up his only two victories of the season by crushing foes in his Balanced Image elimination by 11 lengths and coming back a week later in the final, driving away to win convincingly after coming first-over and doing so in a new track record of 1:59 for two-year-old trotting geldings. Driver Bob McClure was in the bike for the win.
He fashioned a 2-3-2 slate in 11 season starts, earning $52,895 for his connections. He had a solid season, but was at his very best in his two appearances at Hanover Raceway. He has to be considered the logical Winter Book favourite to win the Dream of Glory final. His trainer/co-owner Mark Etsell is a Hanover native, so there is a nostalgic angle if he can get the job done. He would also become only the second horse to win both the Balanced Image and Dream of Glory, joining Traverse Seelster.
2. Grace
Trainer: Jason McGinnis
Owners: TheStable Grace Group, Guelph, Ont.
The three-year-old Merchandiser filly lived up to her name and provided her many owners with a ton of thrills in her two-year-old campaign, including winning twice in eight starts and hitting the board in five of her appearances. She has the highest earnings among the contenders, with $98,772 in the bank, making her eligible for the race by just $1,228.
That said, highlights from her two-year-old season include winning an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event at Flamboro Downs, where she went gate-to-wire to win by three lengths in 1:58 over the half-mile oval. She also picked up a second-place cheque at an OSS Gold event at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Stable had good success in the Dream of Glory last season with filly Tipsy In Dixie winning her elimination and finishing a hard-charging third in the final. They look to have a very serious contender here, who has shown her chops on a half-mile track. It will make for a jubilant and crowded winner's circle if she can pull it off.
3. Armstead Cole
Trainer: Chantal Mitchell
Owners: James Armitage, Dunrobin, Ont.; Grant Watson, Ottawa, Ont.; Sheryl McDiarmid, Greely, Ont.; Dr. Roland Armitage, Dunrobin, Ont.
The three-year-old gelded son of Johnny William saved his best for last in his two-year-old season, closing out his campaign with back-to-back wins, coming in the Grassroots Semi-Finals and then taking the OSS Grassroots title at Woodbine Mohawk Park and the $30,000 cheque. He stashed away $59,830 in seasonal earnings and had a 3-1-1 line in eight starts.
Armstead Cole also won a OSS Grassroots event at Grand River Raceway over that half-mile oval in 1:58.1, which was his only appearance away from Woodbine Mohawk Park. He certainly showed the talent to be considered a serious threat for the title. So much so, that one wonders if he might be able to step up into OSS Gold company. His connections would then have some decisions to make, on whether he takes on Dream of Glory foes or heads to an OSS Gold event.
4. Hang On Baby
Trainer: John Kennedy
Owners: Ralph and Sandra Pitt, Cargill, Ont.
The three-year-old Muscle Mass filly was lightly raced as a two-year-old, not making her first appearance until November 6. Since then, she has been dominant, winning six of 10, including four straight at Woodbine Mohawk Park, mopping up with the non-winners of two and three classes in dominant fashion.
The only horse of the contenders stabled at Hanover Raceway, she knows this track very well, although hasn't raced here. Driver Sylvain Filion has guided her to those four straight wins and she's looked well within herself doing it. Her only loss in 2022 came when she made a break. Trainer John Kennedy is looking for his first ever Dream of Glory win and this game filly looks to have a solid shot at doing so.
5. Drinks At Home
Trainer Luc Blais
Owner: Determination, Montreal, Que.
A three-year-old son of Royalty For Life, he had some shining moments as a rookie square-gaiter, that included a 1:57.1 score in the William Wellwood consolation for his only win in nine starts. He did pick up a second in an OSS Gold at Woodbine Mohawk Park and a sharp third at Flamboro Downs in another OSS Gold, trotting over Flamboro Downs in 1:58.1. The horse chalked up $64,563 for his rookie campaign.
This ownership and trainer have seen the highest of highs in our sport, winning the Hambletonian with Forbidden Trade, along with driver Bob McClure. They consistently bring horses that are ready to compete and are categorized well. He looks to be a nice fit among the contenders and had Hanover Raceway's leading driver in 2021, McClure, as his partner for the majority of his season.
6. Luca Hanover
Trainer: Francis Dumouchel
Owners: Francis Dumouchel, Embro, Ont.; Ecurie CSL, Sorel-Tracy, Que.; O A S 2021, Komoka, Ont.; 9174 7988 Quebec Inc., St-Janvier-Mirabel, Que.
This three-year-old gelded son of Resolve fashioned himself a very impressive two-year-old campaign, posting a 2-2-1 ledger in eight starts and a sharp 1:57.3 mark at Woodbine Mohawk Park. He also brought in $69,571 in earnings for his ownership team and had some moments that stand out. He won an OSS Grassroots at Woodbine Mohawk Park and made $24,750 of his seasonal earnings by finishing second in an OSS Gold at Flamboro Downs, trotting over the half-mile oval in 1:58.
His trainer/co-owner, Francis Dumouchel, clearly saw enough in that start over a half-mile track to feel he can get around the Hanover oval with no issues. He was very competitive in the majority of his starts and shows the ability to race on the front or from off the pace. His versatility should serve him well and give him a shot at Hanover's marquis event.
7. Renegade Gypsy
Trainer: Mario Baillargeon
Owners: TheStable Renegade Gypsy, Guelph, Ont.
A sharp-looking son of Archangel from Anthony MacDonald's The Stable fractional ownership group, which has been on a roll of late. This gelding posted two wins and four on-the-board finishes in eight starts and chalked up $38,547, earning a mark of 1:57.4 at Kawartha Downs over a good track, where he won a Grassroots event by more than eight lengths. He also finished third in an early OSS Gold event at Woodbine Mohawk Park and earned a spot in the OSS Grassroots final, finishing seventh after cutting out the mile.
He shows a penchant for liking to leave and be on the front and is always close to the lead off the starting car. That gate speed can come in very handy over a half-mile track, especially if you draw outside. He has never raced over a half-mile oval, but trains regularly over the half-mile track at Tomiko Training Centre and that should not be an issue. He has an interesting profile and could be a dark horse contender for the title.
8. Stonebridge Zeus
Trainer: Blake MacIntosh
Owners: Van Camp Trotting Group, Port Perry, Ont.; Mortgage Boys Stable, Fayettville, New York; Blake MacIntosh, St. George, Ont.
This three-year-old son of Resolve registered just one win in 11 starts, but had a second and three thirds and was improving as the season went on. That included finishing up the year in the Grassroots final with a very strong third-place finish, beaten just two lengths and timed in 1:57.1. He also won a Grassroots event at Hiawatha Horse Park and, most notably, raced well in two appearances at Hanover Raceway, including in the Balanced Image final, where he finished second behind Sea Can in track record time. That effort picked up a cheque for $11,000, a good part of his $37,763 in seasonal earnings. He certainly has to be considered a horse who can earn his way to the final. This is one of several solid prospects that the Blake MacIntosh barn has kept eligible for the Dream of Glory.
9. Lilys Lass
Trainer: Patrick Hunt
Owners: Patrick Hunt, Cambridge, Ont.; Goldfinger Stables, Thornhill, Ont.
This three-year-old Angus Hall lass had a solid debut in her rookie season, chalking up $42,772 in earnings in nine starts. Though she only had one win, it certainly was a statement victory, coming at Hanover Raceway in the Balanced Image eliminations. She crushed the field by almost six lengths, tying the track record for two-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:59.4 score. In the final, she was sent off as the betting favourite, only to make a costly break on the lead heading to the quarter-mile marker and finished eighth.
She dabbled in OSS Gold company, making the final for $225,000, finishing sixth. There is certainly lots of ability there. If trainer Hunt is able to harness that talent at crunch time, she has the goods to put herself squarely in contention for the title.
10. HP Maestro
Trainer: Benoit Baillargeon
Owners: Claude Hamel, Ayers Cliff, Que.
A three-year-old gelded son of Il Sogno Dream, he was very competitive in OSS Grassroots company, fashioning two wins, four seconds and a third in 10 season starts. His biggest win came in an OSS Grassroots event at Grand River Raceway, where he won by almost three lengths in 1:58.3. He also earned his way to the Grassroots final, but made an untimely break and finished 10th.
He has shown that he likes to race on the lead or just off of it, never being worse than third off the gate. He flashed :27.1 closing speed in his Grassroots Semi-Final and stashed away $54,945 for his connections. It would not be a shock to see him in the final, but it also wouldn't be a surprise to see him move up and face Gold company and do it successfully, if he can improve modestly over his solid efforts last year. In a word, intriguing.
11. Clockwork Orange
Trainer Blake MacIntosh
Owners - 30 Plus Stable, Trenton, Ont.; Blake MacIntosh, St. George, Ont.
Clockwork Orange, a bay filly by Resolve, made money like clockwork when she raced, bringing home $69,053 in her rookie season and chalking up 2-2-2 in 10 starts and a speed badge of 1:57.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. She was strongly competitive in virtually all of her efforts and can race both on the front or from off the pace.
She smashed her rivals at Flamboro Downs by almost nine lengths in an OSS Grassroots event and was stakes-placed in both the Champlain and Pure Ivory. She also dabbled in OSS Gold company, picking up a second and a fifth in two tries. She is very handy and if she was able to improve off the speed she showed at Flamboro by a second or so, it would put her right in the mix to win the Dream of Glory.
12. Global News
Trainer: Blake MacIntosh
Owners: Hutt Racing Stable, Malvern, Pennsylvania; Blake MacIntosh, St. George, Ont.; Stuart MacIntosh, Essex, Ont.
Global News showed some ability in her rookie season, which included an OSS Grassroots victory at Hanover Raceway. She was entered in the Balanced Image eliminations, but was scratched lame by the track veterinarian in the warm-up before the race. The Archangel filly went on to chalk up a 2-1-1 slate in nine starts and $29,959 in earnings.
She did her best racing over a half-mile track, including a solid second at Flamboro Downs in Grassroots company and made over half her earnings in her two starts on a half-mile track. Trainer MacIntosh has several contenders he has kept eligible. It's not a surprise that this is one of them, as she flashed enough ability to think she could have a shot.
13. Angelonia
Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore
Owners: Dr. Ian Moore, Cambridge, Ont.; Frank Cannon, Sanford, Florida
A black filly by Archangel, Angelonia had a positive rookie campaign, stashing away $53,605 and registering two wins and five thirds in 12 season starts. She took her mark of 1:57.3 in her final start of 2021, winning the $45,100 Harvest Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park. She ventured twice to a half-mile oval, finishing third-placed-eighth at Grand River and third at Flamboro Downs in stakes action. She was able to make the final of the Pure Ivory as well.
Most of the season she was on the edges of much bigger success, putting in credible efforts to suggest that she could have made a lot more money with a little luck. A $52,400 purchase from the 2020 London Selected Sale, Dr. Moore had to be reasonably happy with her season and definitely with her potential moving forward. Certainly a dark horse candidate that could be heard from.
14. Archery Seelster
Trainer: Marcel Barrieau
Owners: Gestion Mastel Inc., Longeuil, Que.; and Marcel Barrieau, Cambridge, Ont.
This son of Wheeling N Dealin has the fastest mark of any Dream of Glory contender, with a sharp 1:56.1 effort in the OSS Grassroots Semi-Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park, before finishing fourth in the $60,000 final. In a 10-race rookie campaign, he notched three wins and one third and $44,160, and showed amazing speed and appears to have significant potential.
He improved substantially towards the end of his campaign, which bodes well for 2022. He made two appearances at half-mile ovals, picking up a third and fourth at Grand River Raceway and had no issues getting around the turns. He might be a horse we're underrating, if he can pick up where he left off last season.
15. Sir Ballykeel
Trainer: Joshua McKibbin
Owner: Ballykeel Racing Stable, Tillsonburg, Ont.
This homebred son of Il Sogno Dream had a very workmanlike rookie campaign, during which he was solid but unspectacular, registering a 2-1-3 record in 10 starts and a modest 2:01.4 mark at Grand River Raceway. On paper, his speed is a step behind others rated in here, but when you look closer at his efforts, perhaps his best effort of the season was in the Balanced Image final at Hanover, trotting to a 1:59.4 third-place finish after being parked for more than half a mile. That was a very credible effort that we can't ignore and proves that he's capable of a great effort at Hanover Raceway.
Will he need to step up to be more than a fringe player? Certainly, but it wouldn't be the first time that a horse was babied through their rookie season and not taxed as hard, only to explode as a three-year-old. We'll keep an eye on this pupil from the Josh McKibbin barn.
Honorable Mentions - Century Isaiah, Alisonann Hanover and Evil Guy
(With files from Hanover Raceway)