Stakes winner scores in Dream of Glory elim

Captain Wania (Resolve) will head the field into next week’s Dream of Glory after winning his elimination for the harness racing stake for three-year-old trotters on Saturday (Jul. 27) at Hanover Raceway.

The City of London final winner sat third behind an early speed battle between Birthday Money (Todd Ratchford), who cut the quarter of :27.4 on the outside, and No One (Bruce Richardson), who fended him off to lead to the half in :57.3.

Trevor Henry slid Captain Wania out coming onto the backstretch, and the gelding advanced uncovered to three-quarters in 1:28.1. He progressed further on the final turn, put No One away in mid-stretch, and held on over the late-charging Arcadia Seelster (Doug McNair) for the victory in 1:59.3.

Arcadia Seelster was second over No One. Birthday Money held onto fourth over Charmbo Gem (Tom Smith).

Captain Wania is now six-for-18 lifetime with $76,188 in earnings. He failed to earn a cheque in his first five starts since his debut at three this year but has since finished second in the Ontario-sired Spring Series Final, won his City of London Final, and was third in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold. Shannon Henry trains the gelding for owners Trevor Henry Stables of Arthur, James Fleming of Bayfield, and David Hudson of Dallas.

Magic Dealer (Wheeling N Dealin) took the other elimination in his sixth career start. The gelding was first to the front but had to give and go with Alexander (Ratchford) just past the quarter in :29.1 to re-take the lead. He commanded the field to the half in 1:00, but Radical Legacy (Doug McNair) challenged his reign as they raced to three-quarters in 1:29.2 and kept up the pressure into the last turn.

Magic Dealer repelled Radical Legacy as they straightened into the stretch and sealed the deal as he came home to a length-and-a-half win in 2:00.1. Poof (Smith) nabbed Radical Legacy on the line for second, followed by Mass Cara (Trevor Henry) in fourth.

The winner has tallied three wins in his first six outings and finished second in an Ontario Sires Stake Grassroots leg last time. The Oaklea Farm homebred is trained by Paul Walker and has now earned $30,825.

The draw for the final was conducted during the card. The post positions are as follows

1 – Mass Cara

2 – Magic Dealer

3 – Radical Legacy

4 – Poof

5 – Captain Wania

6 – Birthday Money

7 – No One

8 – Arcadia Seelster

The $50,000 Dream of Glory Final is scheduled for Saturday (Aug. 3) at Hanover Raceway.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink