Breeders Crown; Hannelore Hanover captures Open Mare Trot

Hannelore Hanover and driver Yannick Gingras continued their dominance in the division with a powerful performance in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot at The Meadowlands on Friday night.

In the early stages Hannelore Hanover and Bee A Magician dueled through a 27 4/5 opening quarter, with Bee A Magician securing the front. Gingras regained the front past the quarter, and Hannelore Hanover coasted with a wind at her back to fractions of 56 1/5 and 1:25 4/5. Shake It Cerry was the first horse to pull, and she came from the back of the pack on a long first-over grind to gain contention.

In the stretch Gingras cleverly kept Bee A Magician in a box as Shake It Cerry kept pace on the outside but by midstretch Hannelore Hanover, a daughter of Indiana sire Swan For All, powered home with a 27 4/5 final quarter in the face of the brisk wind. Hannelore Hanover scored by two lengths ahead of Bee A Magician, with Shake It Cerry gamely holding on to the third spot.

"I thought Bee A Magician would give us a run for the money," said Gingras. "My mare is always strong at the finish, and she was again tonight."

Hannelore Hanover, a 4-year-old, has now earned in excess of $1 million in 2016 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Jerry and Theresa Silva. Ron Burke trains the winner of 16 races in 2016, who paid $3.40 for the victory.

"It's always special to finish off a good year with a Breeders Crown win. I think that sews up, maybe there wasn't a doubt, aged trotting mare and keeps her in the running for Trotter of the Year," said Burke.

With her second-place finish, Bee A Magician did surpass the $4 million mark in career earnings.