Sea Can captures $52,200 Dream Of Glory

Sea Can (Muscle Mass) swung off cover and thundered home to win the $52,200 Dream Of Glory final, Hanover Raceway’s signature harness racing event, on Saturday (Jul. 30).

Renegade Gypsy (Jason Ryan) cut a :29.1 first quarter from the front. Scott Young pulled Sea Can out of fourth to follow Drinks At Home (Travis Henry), who went on the attack first-over approaching the half in 1:00.1.

Young stayed patient to three-quarters in 1:29.2 and tipped the gelding three-wide on the turn for home. Sea Can charged by Drinks At Home and Renegade Gypsy down the lane to take the victory in 1:59.3.

Drinks At Home finished strongly for place. Promise For Life (Bruce Richardson) rallied from sixth to third in the final eighth of a mile. The winner paid $6.90.

SEA CAN REPLAY

Sea Can’s victory was his third of the year and first in a stake since the Balanced Image at Hanover in August 2021. He has won five of his 21 lifetime tries and earned $111,918. Trainer Mark Etsell of Rockwood co-owns the gelding with breeder Terry Devos of Langton and Peter Porter of Port Dover.

“I’m really happy with how he performed today,” Etsell said in an on-air interview. “He got a perfect trip, kind of what we were looking for – second over, and he can pop pretty good – so we’re very happy.”

Etsell also said he was glad to see enthusiastic support.

“This is my home track, I started my drives here, and it’s nice to see a lot of people here again,” he said. “It used to be – in the 80s and stuff – the place was always packed, so it’s nice to see a big crowd.”

Also on the card, Illgetmyown Thanks (Shadow Play, Henry) nailed Champagne Phil (Richardson) at the wire after a stretch duel to take the Gail Murray Invitation Pace in 1:55.3. Champagne Phil missed by a head. Lyons Johnnyjr (Tyler Moore) finished third.

ILLGETMYOWN THANKS REPLAY

Illgetmyown Thanks, a six-year-old gelding, has made 78 appearances for 10 wins and $95,651 in earnings. He won a Pop-Up Series leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park earlier this season for trainer Dale Fritz, who co-owns him with Michael Sawyer of Walkerton, Edward Acheson of Proton Station, and B W P Stable of Toronto.

Hanover Raceway continues action on Saturday, Aug 6.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink