from the Ontario Sire Stakes

Toronto, ON — In the $71,400 Dream Of Glory Trot local favorite Mister Muscle stormed out of the pocket to a nose victory over pacesetter Magic Night and Scene A Magician in 1:58.3 on Saturday (Aug. 5) at Hanover Raceway.

Iron Horse photo

Winning the Dream Of Glory has special meaning for Bob McClure.

Trainer Mark Etsell, a former Walkerton resident who now calls Rockwood home, Robert Newton of Walkerton and Chuan Tan of Cambridge, Ont. bred and share ownership of the Muscle Mass gelding, who picked up just his second win of the season with the effort.

Driver Bob McClure, who started his career at Hanover Raceway and still counts the half-mile among his favourite places to drive, said the win had added meaning for both him and Etsell.

“I was talking to Mark on the way here and he’s had to scratch two favorites out of the final,” McClure explained. “And everybody wants to win the big ones, the Little Brown Jug, the Gold Cup and Saucer, but this was on my bucket list.”

Hanover Raceway’s next big night of racing, the Balanced Image Trot Final on Saturday (Aug. 26), will also feature Ontario Sires Stakes action as the 3-year-old trotting colts compete in their fifth Grassroots event.