Hanover stakes triple for McClure

Harness racing driver Bob McClure captured three stakes events on Saturday at Hanover Raceway, including the $44,200 Balanced Image Final.

McClure steered Sea Can, a dominant elimination winner, to victory in the Balanced Image Final for Ontario-sired two-year-old trotters. The son of Muscle Mass raced second-over to the half and continued advancing one his cover cleared, soaring to a two-and-a-half-length score in the stretch. The gelding earned a time of 1:59, a new lifetime mark. He has won two of seven lifetime for trainer Mark Etsell, who owns with Terry Devos of Langton and Peter Porter of Port Dover.

The annual stake is named for Hall of Fame inductee Balanced Image, a legendary Canadian sire who produced horses such as Billyjojimbob, Goodtimes, Glorys Comet, and Yankee Paco.

Los Ballykeelamigo and McClure took the Walker Memorial Invitation Trot in the prior dash, racing first-up from the quarter and taking over in the third panel en route to a 1:58.3 win by three quarters of a length. Los Ballykeelamigo, a four-year-old Amigo Hall gelding, has won 12 of 38 career starts with total earnings of $72,752. Joshua McKibbin conditions the homebred for Ballykeel Racing Inc. of Tillsonburg.

McClure’s other stakes tally came in the second Prospect Series split – the second division of the fourth sophomore trotting filly leg. He sent Top Of The Bar, a son of Muscle Mass, first-over in the second quarter and took the top spot while trotting past three-quarters, when the leader jumped off stride. Top Of The Bar then won going away by a two and three quarter lengths in a lifetime-best 2:00.2. Top Of The Bar, another Etsell trainee, is four-for-15 lifetime and has earned $59,849. Etsell shares ownership with Robert Newton of Walkerton, Graham Hopkins of Chesley, and Porter. The coalition spent $25,000 on the filly at the 2019 Lexington Select auction.

TOP OF THE BAR REPLAY

Iona Dream, a daughter of Il Sogno Dream, captured the other Prospect division. She fought for command early and led all the way after taking it, crossing the line first in 2:01. Paul Mackenzie drove for trainer Terry Gallant. The filly, an $18,000 London Selected sale buy, has earned $18,524 and won three times in 15 career attempts. Triple S Equine of Newton owns her.

IONA DREAM REPLAY

Also on the card, Rollwithitjessie won a tight photo in the Harness The Hope Pace. Harness The Hope is a fundraising event hosted by Ontario racetracks that raises funds and awareness for cancer support programs and research. The organization sends proceeds to the Brest Cancer Society of Canada and the Pink Pearl Foundation.

Hanover Raceway’s third-last card of the season is scheduled for Saturday, Sep. 4. The track’s closing day will be on Saturday, Sep. 18.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink