Elims complete, field set for Balanced Image

Coppereagle (Muscle Mass) and Lmc Mr Squishy (Archangel) took the harness racing eliminations for the Balanced Image, one of two signature races at Hanover Raceway, on Saturday (Aug. 19).

Coppereagle pulled the trigger from third coming down the backstretch and grappled with leader Alexander (Matt Bax) around the far turn. The pair went toe-to-toe in the sprint for home, and Coppereagle pushed his nose over the line first to score in 2:03.4. Alexander was a narrow second. North Of Nine (Tyler Borth) surged late to be third by a neck. Eiffel Power (Samuel Fillion) and Northernchancellor (Austin Sorrie) both flew to be fourth and fifth, respectively. The top five were all within a half-length of each other at the finish.

Coppereagle has won three of her four starts in her rookie year for $24,022 in earnings. He won a leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots in his debut. Stephen Bossence trains the freshman, a $70,000 Harrisburg purchase, for No One Knows Us Stable of Etobicoke.

In the second elimination, Lmc Mr Squishy broke his maiden in his sixth career start in a front-end victory. The gelding, driven by Pat Hudon, dictated the fractions and came home two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Looks Like Amuscle (Jean Rene Plante) in 2:03. The latter finished second with Poof (Thomas Smith) another length-and-three-quarters back in third. Stonebridge Glee (Borth) was fourth.

Lmc Mr Squishy was previously winless in five outings. Hudon trains the gelding, whom owner Loredana Cirillo of Kleinburg bred.

The $40,000 Balanced Image final for Ontario-sired two-year-olds is set for Saturday, Aug. 26 at Hanover Raceway. The draw was also completed on Saturday and is listed below:

1. 1. Poof
   2. Stonebridge Glee
   3. Coppereagle
   4. Looks Like Amuscle
   5. Lmc Mr Squishy
   6. North Of Nine
   7. Eiffel Power
   8. Alexander

AE1: Northernchancellor; AE2: Lockdown Romeo

Saturday’s program also featured the Doc Morley Memorial Invitation Pace for pacing fillies and mares and the Walker Invitation Trot. Cheddar Rose (Betterthancheddar, Borth, 1:59.1) captured the former by two lengths over the closers Acefortyfour Daisy (Trevor Henry) and Kellina Diamond (Ryan Holliday). Sizzlen Hot Herbie (Here Comes Herbie, Natasha Day, 1:58.1) out-finished Sicario (Travis Henry) from the pocket to take the latter by three-quarters-of-a-length. Lilys Lass (Jeff Hunt) was third.

Hanover Raceway will race next on Saturday, Aug. 26, the Balanced Image card. The track will then hold three race dates in September, finishing its meet on Sep. 16.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink