Harness: Dorsoduro Hanover grinding his way to the top of the 3-year-old division

Sometimes in the racing business there isn’t equal pay for equal work. Take for example the sophomore pacer Dorsoduro Hanover. Last Saturday night the Ron Burke-trained gelding had the difficult assignment of starting from post 10 in the Meadowlands Pace. His driver Matt Kakaley put him into play with vigor during a brisk opening quarter to find a seat. Kakaley was out again before the half and Dorsoduro Hanover, a son of the late Somebeachsomewhere, went an incredible trip putting away pacemaker American History only to be overtaken late by favored Courtly Choice, who received a perfect cover trip.

“He was awesome,” said Kakaley of the Meadowlands Pace runner-up.

“He’s actually been great in pretty much every start with the exception of the North America Cup eliminations.”

Though Dorsoduro Hanover has been to the big dances thus far in 2018, he has yet to post a major Grand Circuit victory. Things could change in the near future considering he’s drawn into a good spot in one of two Adios eliminations at The Meadows this Saturday afternoon.

“I think he’ll get his share,” said Kakaley, more than confident that Lady Luck would smile favorably on a horse that has been battle tested repeatedly.

At $100,000 Dorsoduro Hanover was the highest price of the 12 foals from Deer Valley Miss sold at auction. The dam, a daughter of Artsplace, had been bred primarily to offspring of Western Hanover and had some success, including the $809K winner Doo Wop Hanover. Dorsoduro Hanover was the first result of breeding to the Mach Three-line and the result has proven to be a rugged and very brave horse.

“He was a big horse last year,” said Kakaley. “I always liked him. I think he just needed to grow into himself.”

Dorsoduro Hanover showed up in the big races but was an also-ran on most occasions, winning just twice in 14 tries without breaking the six-figure barrier in seasonal earnings.

When he returned this year for trainer Burke, Dorsoduro Hanover immediately showed that he had figured things out in a major way. Debuting in the difficult Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program, Dorsoduro Hanover was explosive at The Meadows in a career best 1:50 3/5 mile on May 5. He then came back with consecutive triumphs at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 1:50 1/5 and 1:50 3/5 proceeding a trip to Woodbine at Mohawk Park for the North America Cup.

Kakaley was disappointed in that effort, but the horse rebounded in a major way when he returned to Pocono in late June for the Max Hempt elimination. A rugged first-over grind proved too much for his rivals as he scored in a career best 1:49 4/5 over an improved Springsteen.

In the $500,000 Hempt final on June 30, it was again a case of doing most of the heavy lifting for Dorsoduro Hanover and coming away with less than his fair share of the pie. “I took him to the front because I thought that would give him the best chance,” said Kakaley of the trip that generally works out well over the speed favoring Pocono surface. In the Hempt final it meant contentious fractions of 26, 53 1/5 and 1:20 2/5, setting up a mad dash to the wire that saw Springsteen victorious and Dorsoduro Hanover just a length behind in the 1:48 3/5 mile and earning just a fifth-place check for his trouble.

In the Meadowlands Pace elimination, Dorsoduro Hanover needed just to be in the top five and sat patiently waiting for Courtly Choice to move past the half. While the cover seemed lively, the final quarter sprint was too much and he settled for third behind the eventual Pace champion.

Historically the Burke stable’s top horses are the ones that show up every week and race consistently. As of mid-2018, Dorsoduro Hanover appears to be that horse in the sophomore division. He’s shown high speed while also proving to be physically tough. This Saturday’s start will be his fifth in five weeks, with a sixth hopefully to follow in the Adios finale on July 28.

For Kakaley there’s plenty of reason to look ahead given the way his 2018 had started. Injured when thrown from Lawgiver Hanover on March 13 at Yonkers requiring multiple surgeries facially, Kakaley bounced back in just over two months to get back in the bike and return to the winner’s circle.

“I felt good physically,” said Kakaley of his return. “It just took me some time to get back in to the day-to-day return. I feel as if I’m 100 percent and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Kakaley spoke while in transit after driving in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on Tuesday afternoon at The Meadows. He was hurrying to reach Pocono for the evening Pennsylvania All Stars.

“I want to get there for the first race,” said Kakaley.

Luckily traffic was moving well enough and the driver got to sit behind Sweet Chrome in the first of four $30,000 Pennsylvania All Star divisions for juvenile pacing fillies. The Ron Burke-trainee began the Burke/Sweet Lou-sired sweep with a 1:54 4/5 effort over a then soggy racetrack.

Kakaley will head on back to The Meadows for Saturday’s stakes-filled program with multiple Sire Stakes events for freshman pacers followed by two $25,000 Adios eliminations. Dorsoduro Hanover drew post 3 and will tackle Hempt winner Springsteen (post 1) as well as Hempt third-place finisher Hitman Hill (post 4).

In the first elimination Kakaley drives No Easy Day, another gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere for trainer Ron Burke.

It is a long season for the sophomore pacing set and the division is still looking for its leader. Dorsoduro Hanover has worked hard enough to be considered for the top spot. Now he just needs to find the winner’s circle a few times and get paid for his efforts.