Ontario-sired rookies battle for Balanced Image spots

The field for the $40,000 Balanced Image final is now set following a trio of eliminations for the harness racing stake for two-year-old Ontario-sired trotters at Hanover Raceway on Saturday (Aug. 20).

Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division leader Darbyshire (Muscle Mass) cashed in comfortably in the first division. He rushed forward early and left little work for James MacDonald as he cruised to a three-length victory in 2:00. New Rules (Scott Young) rode the pocket for second. Mass Hysteria (Trevor Henry) closed for third.

DARBYSHIRE REPLAY

Darbyshire, trained by John Bax, has won four of five starts so far in his rookie campaign with a sole loss coming due to a break three starts back. His bankroll now totals $36,000. Breeder Glengate Farms of Erin co-owns the gelding with Bax Stable of Campbellville, Goin To The Show Stable of Peterborough, and Happy Trails Stables of London.

Floyd The Freak (Archangel) emerged from the second elimination after a prolonged battle with Mass Market (Henry) in a 2:01.4 score for driver Ed Hensley. Resolve To Win (MacDonald) could not improve on his pocket trip. All Star Yankee (Jonathan Drury) clawed past Mass Market late for third.

FLOYD THE FREAK REPLAY

It was Floyd The Freak’s second career win, breaking a three-race winless streak since he prevailed on debut in the Grassroots. Ashleigh Hensley trains the gelding, whom she co-bred and co-owns with Ed Hensley.

Rough Tuff Tested (Muscle Mass, James MacDonald) made it a trio of front-end winners as he hung on over heavy favourite Busting With Pride (Henry) and broke his maiden in the third elimination. The latter was three-quarters of a length short in the 2:03.1 mile. Fantastic Mvp (Natasha Day) earned the last spot in the final as the only other to stay flat.

ROUGH TUFF TESTED REPLAY

Trainer Blake Macintosh and fellow owners Van Camp Trotting Corp and Mortgage Boys Stable aimed high with the colt to begin his career. He finished fourth and seventh in a pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold contests in July before stepping down to the Grassroots for two in-the-money finishes in the same number of starts. The $25,000 Harrisburg purchase is now one-for-five lifetime with $16,576 in earnings.

The field for the $40,000 Balanced Image final, to be held on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Hanover Raceway is below:

(PP – Horse (Sire) – Listed driver – Trainer)

1-    Busting With Pride (Resolve) – Trevor Henry – Robert Mcintosh

2-    Rough Tuff Tested (Muscle Mass) – James MacDonald – Blake MacIntosh

3-    Floyd The Freak (Archangel) – Ed Hensley – Ashleigh Hensley

4-    Darbyshire (Muscle Mass) – James MacDonald – John Bax

5-    Fantastic Mvp (My Mvp) – Natasha Day – Jack Moiseyev

6-    Mass Hysteria (Muscle Mass) – Trevor Henry – Kyle Bossence

7-    Resolve To Win (Resolve) – James MacDonald – John Bax

8-    New Rules (Lookslikeachpndale) – Scott Young – Marcel Barrieau

AE1 – All Star Yankee (My Mvp) – Jonathan Drury – Blake Macintosh

AE2 – Sweet Carrie T (Muscle Mass) – Mark Etsell – Mark Etsell

The day’s program also included the Doctor W.D. “Doc” Morley Invitation Pace, which Timewaitsonnoone (Royal Mattjesty) took with a three-wide sweep on the final turn in 2:01.4 for a 9-1 upset. Dustin McClure steered the sophomore filly for trainer George McClure. Catherine McClure of Clinton and Ruth Hastie of Elmwood train their homebred, who has now won three of 18 career starts and has earned $18,620.

Heres The Thing (Thomas Smith) nipped Duchess Of Brant (Terry Fritz) on the wire for second.

Hanover Raceway’s next card is set for Saturday, Aug. 27. First post  will be 1:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink