OSS Gold-winning colt heads Balanced Image elim winners

Sound N Vision (Royalty For Life) crushed his harness racing opponents at a rain-soaked Hanover Raceway in the third elimination of the Balanced Image for Ontario-sired two-year-old trotters on Saturday (Aug. 17).

The Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold winner remained parked out throughout the first half to take the lead at the midway point, stretched out his lead as he rounded the final turn, and cruised home a 2:02.4 winner by four-and-a-half lengths. First Class Rule (Todd Ratchford) finished second, the only other horse in the postal code. Lmc Little Chips (Karl Tomas) was far back in third.

Sound N Vision is now three-for-five lifetime with $48,442 in earnings for owners Mark Etsell, Terry Devos, Peter Porter, and Denise Turner. Etsell trains the freshman.

The Governor (Muscle Mass) broke his maiden in the first elimination, making the lead before the quarter and going all the way from there in 2:04.3 on a track rated three seconds slow. Mike Whelan guided the colt to the half-length win over Captain Suzuki (Tyler Jones). Marie H (Trevor Henry) finished third.

The Governor made three prior starts, all in the OSS Grassroots, and has hit the board twice. Walter Whelan trains the colt for owner/breeder Felix Marion of Cambridge.

Shutter Green (Green Manalishi S, Bob McClure) dominated the second split, cutting the mile and rolling clear by four lengths to win in 2:05.2. Th Emmett (Travis Henry) placed after a first-over trek, followed by Macthenight (Scott Young).

Shutter Green has hit the board in all four career starts and took his first win in the OSS Gold Mid-Season Final Consolation last time out. It was the second elim win for Etsell, who trains the two-year-old and shares ownership with F. Grant Turner, Porter, and Graham Hopkins.

The draw was completed later on the card. The field is as follows:

1 – Sound N Vision

2 – Captain Suzuki

3 – The Governor

4 – First Class Rule

5 – Shutter Green

6 – Lmc Little Chips

7 – Th Emmett

8 – Macthenight

AE1- Marie H

AE 2- Nickle And Dime

The $40,000 Balanced Image Final is set for Aug. 24 at Hanover Raceway.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink