from WFD Media

London, ON — As Easy Lover Hanover gets ready to line up behind the gate in the inaugural Camluck Classic on Saturday (May 26) at The Raceway at Western Fair District, trainer Ben Wallace admits he’s quite humbled to be involved in the Grand Circuit.

Following the devastating barn fire at Classy Lane Training Center in January of 2016, which claimed the lives of more than 40 horses, including 15 of Wallace’s, the veteran conditioner is thankful to be in the sport.

“In one day I was out of business,” Wallace said. “Just like that, but I’m certainly thankful to where we’re at today and just being able to see my name on the program.”

Wallace lost his standout pacer Apprentice Hanover (nearly $1 million in career earnings) in the tragic fire, but he soon found another superstar in the making.

His name is Easy Lover Hanover.

“That was the very first horse we bought following the fire,” Wallace said. “He certainly was a turning point for me and helped with some bad memories of the past.”

New Image Media photo

Easy Lover Hanover has banked $534,982 in his career.

Purchased for $70,000 by longtime owner Brad Grant, Easy Lover Hanover made an immediate impact in the Wallace barn. The son of Somebeachsomwhere captured his first six races early in his 3-year-old year with a sign of bigger and better things to come. The 28-time winner capped off his sophomore season with a victory in the $314,600 Progress Pace before continuing his success as an older horse.

“He’s always showed high speed and I think giving him the proper time off has paid off well. We had to give him a break at some point during his 3-year-old year because he started racing very early; otherwise it’s such a long season for him. ”

Last season, the Wallace trainee earned $172,486 and ended his campaign with six consecutive wins at the Preferred level on the WEG Circuit. The now 5-year-old picked up right where he left off, winning his first three starts of the season, before tasting defeat for the first time last week.

“I was disappointed with his effort,” said Wallace. “I wish I had some sort of reason for the effort, but I don’t. He simply got beat.”

When mapping out the schedule for Easy Lover Hanover, Wallace had the inaugural Camluck Classic on the radar as the horse’s first major stakes event.

“It’s definitely something that Brad and I had talked about for this season. He’s bigger and stronger this year and he’s become a man. I think he can do some pretty nice things this season and we’re hopeful.”

Easy Lover Hanover will line up from post five in the Camluck Classic and will be reunited with regular pilot Doug McNair.

“I think you’re always worried about coming to the half, because it all depends on the draw and trip. I think any trainer will tell you that. We’re excited to be a part of the night and we’re hoping for the best.”

The field for the Camluck Classic (which includes post positions, horses, drivers, trainers and morning line odds) appears below.

Camluck Classic
(Post–Horse–Driver–Trainer–Morning Line Odds)
1–Sunfire Blue Chip–Trevor Henry–Jimmy Takter–9-2
2–Isitfridayyet–Alfie Carroll–Richard Moreau–8-1
3–Killer Martini–Scott Coulter–Ricky Bucci–10-1
4–Rockin Ron–Louis Roy–Ron Burke–5-2
5–Easy Lover Hanover–Doug McNair–Ben Wallace–7-2
6–Evenin Of Pleasure–Joe Bongiorno–Jennifer Bongiorno–4-1
7–Dr J Hanover–James MacDonald–Tony Alagna–8-1
8–Bit Of A Legend N–Jordan Stratton–Peter Tritton-2-1