Woodbine Mohawk Park: Star Power Hanover steps into the OSS Gold Series spotlight

Star Power Hanover staged an upset in the lone C$159,600 2-year-old trotting colt and gelding Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series division at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night, giving driver Bob McClure and trainer Luc Blais back-to-back appearances in the winner's circle on another stakes-rich evening at the Campbellville oval.

Sent off the fifth choice from post six in the 12-horse contest, Star Power Hanover left smartly and landed in third behind Twin B Archie and Luca Hanover and in front of heavy favorite Duly Resolved. Twin B Archie rang up the 27 4/5 quarter and then yielded to Duly Resolved, who took the field to a 57 3/5 half. When Luca Hanover tipped out heading by the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters, McClure moved his charge up behind Twin B Archie, and when that colt stepped out to challenge Duly Resolved, McClure moved Star Power Hanover into an open lane. After being shown clear air, the colt sprinted past the leaders to a three-quarter length victory in 1:55 1/5.

"He certainly stepped up in a big way," said McClure of the Wheeling N Dealin son's first lifetime victory. "He's always shown flashes of potential, but getting him to realise that potential has been a little tough. I think Luc has finally got him in a good spot, and he's trending in the right direction at the right time, for sure."

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In six previous starts Star Power Hanover's best finish had been a third-place result, both in a Sept. 14 overnight and the Aug. 19 Gold Series event at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The colt started his Ontario Sires Stakes career at the Grassroots level, where he finished a hard-closing fourth, then made a break in his July 29 promotion to the Gold Series. A pair of qualifiers followed, and the youngster has been error-free through the last month, finishing no worse than fifth.

"One start there, he didn't really want to go to the gate, so then the next time I had him there early, and he didn't like horses coming up behind him," said McClure of the colt's first two outings. "He's quirky, I wouldn't say hard (to drive) just quirky, certain things bother him that don't bother others. Every week seems to be a learning curve trying to figure what upset Star Power this week."

Blais trains Star Power Hanover for Determination, who offered up $57,000 to acquire the colt out of last fall's Standardbred Horse Sale. Saturday's win boosted the trotter from 16th to fifth in the division standings with a total of 62 points. The 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings have one regular season Gold event remaining, on Oct. 3 at Flamboro Downs, before the top 10 point earners return to Woodbine Mohawk Park for the $225,000 Super Final on Oct. 16.

"He's really perfect gaited, and he's a really nice size; he's a very good looking horse," said McClure. "I'd rather have him peaking now than early."

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--