Harness racing: Roar is fresh for OSS Super Finals at Woodbine

Marc Hanover and Gordon Banks’ Enviro Stables Ltd are looking to Roar into this Saturday’s OSS Super Finals for rookie pacing colts.

Roar, a $82,000 yearling purchase, has raced just five times this season, but the son of Mach Three couldn’t be coming into the rich event in better form after his impressive 1:52 1/5 winning effort in his latest start.

“He’s probably the freshest horse in the field and hopefully that pays off for us,” Hanover said. “I have to give credit to my cousin, Gordon, because he spotted him as a yearling. Our trainer, Linda Toscano, has had nothing but good things to say about him since day one.”

After finishing second in his first lifetime start in an OSS Gold elimination, Roar was interfered with in the $130,000 final.

“He got interfered with and made a break behind the gate, so we had to take the necessary steps to get him back 100 percent,” Hanover said. “We gave him some time off, over a month, and now it looks like he’s back in top form.”

After a pair of speedy qualifiers, Roar once again lined up behind the gate in a pair of events at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, finishing fourth both times for driver Tim Tetrick.

“He raced well, but not super,” Hanover said. “Usually, every horse loves Lexington, but we’re not sure he did. We know he has the speed to be a good horse, but he didn’t really demonstrate it.”

Roar, a winner of $20,600 in seasonal earnings, didn’t hit his best stride until his only victory of the season, which came on October 22 at Woodbine.

“He put in a terrific mile, one that we knew he was capable of,” recalled Hanover. “He got a very nice trip and came home in :27 1/5. There isn’t much more you could have asked for.”

Looking ahead to Saturday's big race, Hanover is optimistic about making a trip to the winner’s circle.

“The season is so long and it’s very hard for a young horse to be at his or her best early in the year and then again late in the year. Our horse is very fresh and I feel good about our chances and that we can benefit from that. We have a terrific trainer and driver. The rest is up to the horse.”

Roar will begin from post four in race nine for driver Jody Jamieson.

Eight $300,000 OSS Super Finals will be contested on Saturday night, featuring the province’s best two- and three-year-old pacers and trotters. Horses competing in the Gold Series Eliminations and Finals throughout the season accumulated points based on performance and the top point earners are eligible to compete in Super Finals.

First race post time is 7:30 p.m.

-edited release-Woodbine (Greg Gangle)