Poof pulls magic trick in $33,400 Balanced Image

Poof (Lookslikeachpndale) pulled off an upset comeback harness racing victory after breaking at the start in the $33,400 Balanced Image final at Hanover Raceway on Saturday (Aug. 26).

The colt, who entered the race a maiden, broke before the start and was well behind entering the first turn. Driver Thomas Smith had him back on stride quickly, and Poof began to catch the back of the four horses who remained trotting. He was three lengths back of fourth at the quarter in :29.4, had the same margin to go at the half in 1:01.1, but he moved into range as the field approached three-quarters in 1:31.2.

Poof entered the homeward turn at the tail of the leading pack, but the colt swung four-wide and turned on the jets. He produced the fastest final quarter and blew by his rivals to win the Balanced Image by a length in 2:03.2.

Alexander (James MacDonald) braved a first-over trip from the eight-hole and finished second. Eiffel Power (Bob McClure) was third.

POOF REPLAY

Poof was previously winless in five tries. He made four starts in the Prospect Series, hitting the board once with a place finish, before his Balanced Image elimination. Smith co-owns the colt with trainer Jayne Walker. The freshman has now earned $20,390 as a freshman.

The Balanced Image is named after the stallion who became one of Ontario’s most successful sires. The race was inaugurated in 2005, a year after his death, and features Ontario-sired two-year-old trotters.

The card also featured four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions of the fourth leg for three-year-old pacing fillies. The winners were Mending Fences (Artspeak, Anthony Haughan, 1:56.2), Uncontrolled (Control The Moment, Doug McNair, 1:55.3), Twin Delight (Bettors Delight, McClure, 1:56.3), and Sweetest Belle (Sportswriter, McNair, 1:56.1). Twin Delight has now won in every leg of the series and leads the division with 200 points.

Hanover Raceway will enter its final month of racing for the year on Saturday, Sep. 2, its third-to-last card.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink