Six-horse William Connors Memorial Prep at Hazel Park
July 3, 2013,from Hazel Park Raceway
Hazel Park, MI — A compact field of six will line up behind the gate on Friday night (July 5) at Hazel Park Raceway in the William Connors Memorial prep race. The race highlights a holiday card that will be capped off by the track’s annual fireworks display following the races.
With just a half-dozen 3-year-old trotters entered for the 14th renewal of the race named for the late Hall of Fame race secretary, all move directly into the $100,000 final scheduled for next Friday night (July 12) at the suburban Detroit racetrack.
Drawing post one in Friday’s prep is Powerful Poe, who has two wins in seven starts this year and is coming into the race off a second-place finish in the Hanover on June 29 at Balmoral Park. Trained by Dirk Simpson, the son of Powerful Emotion’s seven wins last year included the $119,000 Lincoln Land final as well as the Hanover and Cardinal at Balmoral.
Powerful Poe is the richest of the entrants with $184,778 in earnings for owners Mystical Marker Farms and Jack and Peggy Hood.
Theatrical Session, a winner of a Scioto River Series elimination at Scioto Downs and then second in the final on June 28, will start from post two in the prep. Chris Beaver trains Theatrical Session and shares ownership with David Lang, Steven Shelton and James Gallagher.
The $80,050-winning son of Broadway Hall also has fourth-place finishes in both the Currier & Ives and Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows this year.
The remainder of the Connors prep field, in post position order, is Torino Seelster, Longwell, Sir James and Voodoo Victor.
Friday night’s program will begin with a special first-race post time of 6:30 p.m. The Connors prep is scheduled as the ninth race, with an approximate post time of 9:10 p.m. The 12-race card is scheduled to conclude around 10:30 p.m., with the fireworks taking place shortly afterward.
Admission and parking are free at Hazel Park. Also on Friday night, programs, hot dogs, soft drinks and popcorn will be just $1 each, with 16-ounce draft beer for $2.