Breeders Crown: Hanover-breds clean up in Open Pace eliminations

Ervin Hanover and Ken Hanover surged to wins in their respective C$34,250 Breeders Crown Open Pace eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night.

Ervin Hanover muscled through a first-over grind to down Nijinsky in the final strides of a 1:48 mile in the first elimination for the Open Pace.

Coaches Corner thrusted off the wings from post nine to take the top into a 26 3/5 first quarter before yielding control in a shuffle to Captain Albano and then Nijinsky. Ervin Hanover, positioned fifth, tipped off the pylons and pushed uncovered through a 54 4/5 half towards Nijinsky, reaching the leader's wheel midway around the last turn. Nijinsky spun by three-quarters in 1:21 2/5 and accelerated into the stretch as Ervin Hanover gathered momentum to the outside. Ervin Hanover extended in the last eighth and glided by Nijinsky to seal victory by a neck. Captain Albano settled for third off a bottled trip with Coaches Corner taking fourth and Oakwood Ardan IR closing to grab the last berth into the final in fifth.

"It was a tough effort tonight to come first-over against horses like that, and a quick back-half," said driver Dexter Dunn, who picked up the drive with Louis Roy opting to drive Nijinsky. "He really wanted to get his head out there and win that race. We were obviously coming home pretty quick, and Louis' horse definitely had me covered three-quarters down the straight. But to 'Ervin's' credit, he really stuck his head out; he was digging in deep and he wanted to get that one."

Dave Menary trains Ervin Hanover, a 5-year-old Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace stallion bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., for owner Pollack Racing LLC. The stallion won his 25th race from 73 starts and has now earned C$1,266,066 in his career. Sent the betting favorite, he paid $4.80 to win.

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Ken Hanover pounced off a pocket ride to a 1:47 3/5 victory in the second Open Pace elimination.

Maximus Miki, the 3-5 favorite, motored to the lead through a 26 4/5 first quarter with Ken Hanover tracking snugly from second, and he cruised on the lead with no pressure to a 55 2/5 half. El Rey made the first move off the pylons when pulling from fifth into the final turn and quickly progressed, prompting driver David Miller to pull Ken Hanover from the pocket and attack Maximus Miki. The top two matched strides after three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 until Ken Hanover lifted in the straight and comfortably pulled away to a 1 1/4 length win. Maximus Miki settled for second with Huntinthelastdolar taking third off a ground-saving trip. Calicojack Hanover finished fourth off a pylon ride and Coach Stefanos rallied down the center of the track to take fifth.

"He felt really good and strong," David Miller said after the race. "He left the gate well and got a good trip. When I moved him, he was right up on the muscle. I knew I had the horse to beat. I was following, and I was able to sit all the way until the last turn and I went ahead and moved him."

Winning his eighth race from 13 starts this season and his 21st race from 56 starts in his career, Ken Hanover has now earned C$1,229,966 for owners Roland Mallar, Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.

"He's been good all year," trainer Roland Mallar said after the race. "He had a little setback about six weeks ago - had a lung infection that kind of lingered a little longer than I liked. But we had to get it cleared up before I wanted to come back and tackle these guys."

"He had a good trip tonight. So everything worked out great, really," Mallar also said. "He didn't seem to really have to use him a whole lot. Hopefully there's some in the tank for next week."

Ken Hanover, a 5-year-old Captaintreacherous-KJs Justine stallion bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., paid $6.40 to win.