Woodbine Mohawk Park: Dream Maker Series kicks off

Rookie pacing colts and geldings were on display Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the first leg of the Dream Maker Series. The Dream Maker Series has annually been a launching pad to stardom for some of the sport's top pacing colts and geldings. Last year's series was an early season stop for several of this year's top 3-year-old pacers, including series winner Capt Midnight and preliminary leg winners Allywag Hanover and Tall Dark Stranger (did not race in the final).

Betting Line colt Dean B Hanover took Monday's first division impressively in 1:52 1/5. The Casie Coleman-Herlihy trainee and driver Travis Cullen shot out to the early lead and let stablemate Beachhead take the top spot racing to the half before powering by with a 26 3/5 final quarter for a 2 3/4 length win. Beachhead just held on for second over Ucanttouchthis, while Somewhereinverona was fourth.

Dean B Hanover is now two-for-two in his young career and does have plenty of expectations to live up to after being purchased for $340,000 as a yearling at Harrisburg. He is owned by Mac Nichol, John Liviakis, and Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. A $2 win ticket on Dean B Hanover returned $5.70.

Island Beach Boy capitalized on a miscue by 1-5 favorite Linedrive Hanover to win the second division in 1:52 1/5.

The early portion of the race saw Perfectboy Hanover cut an opening quarter of 28 seconds. Keystone Catalyst then looped to the top from second but his lead was brief as Linedrive Hanover rushed from third to first through a half of 56 seconds. Linedrive Hanover paced a strong third quarter of 27 3/5 to lead into the lane but early in the stretch started to put in some awkward steps and made a break.

While Linedrive Hanover couldn't maintain his gait, Island Beach Boy sat back fourth throughout and unleashed a good 27 3/5 final quarter for driver Sylvain Filion to sweep by rivals and capture win by 2 1/2 lengths. Keystone Catalyst finished second, while Perfectboy Hanover was third. Linedrive Hanover reset from the break to finish fourth.

Trained by Marcel Barrieau, Island Beach Boy was making the second start of his career on Monday. The son of Somebeachsomewhere finished second to Dean B Hanover in his debut on July 13. Island Beach Boy is owned by Ian Smith and Arnold Hagen. He paid $14.50 to win.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--