Harrah's Philadelphia: Coach K Hanover lowers track record

In only his second lifetime start, the 2-year-old Walner-Chezatter colt Coach K Hanover set a divisional track record of 1:54 4/5 in one of two splits of the $130,000 Super Bowl, part of the John Simpson Sr. Memorial stakes series, on Wednesday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt knew what he had in front of him based on a 1:56 1/5 (56 4/5 back-half) victory at Pocono in his bow, and from the rail he showed no interest in yielding to anybody, with Castle House and Parola Hanover tucked behind him second and third to a 28 2/5 quarter. Positions did not change past the 57 3/5 half and 1:26 2/5 three-quarters, although Parola Hanover had come up uncovered late in the backstretch, with Delgado drafting behind him. But a 28 2/5 last quarter under no pressure left Delgado five lengths behind on the line, with Parola Hanover another half-length back in third.

The 1:54 4/5 mile shaved a tick off the old track standard, first established by Rome Pays Off in 2019, equaled by Captain Corey (Svanstedt) last year, and tied again in the Liberty Bell stake by Parola Hanover on September 24. Coach K Hanover, owned by Little E LLC., Young Guns, Wolfgang A Stable, and Tomas Andersson, may have come along a little late for the Breeders Crown, but there are Final Four contests upcoming, with those finals on November 20.

In the other trot section, the front-end also paid off for the Bar Hopping-Winbak Maya gelding Whiskey Hanover, who went fractions of 28 4/5, 59, and 1:28 2/5 before tripping the timer in 1:57 2/5. By The Book, who had gotten a pocket trip behind the winner in his last start but came up a length shy, cut that margin in half Wednesday, but he didn't get into the winner, who was driven by Andy Miller, is trained by wife Julie, and owned by Andy Miller Stable Inc., Richard Gutnick, Let It Ride Stables Inc., and T L P Stable.

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There were also two divisions of the $95,200 Bret Hanover, the companion stake for rookie male pacers. Driver Yannick Gingras, fresh off his five Breeders Crown elimination victories this past weekend, won both cuts of this stake, the faster mile of 1:52 coming from the Betting Line gelding Camouflage Money, whose dam Shelliscape won the Mare Pace Crown in 2013. Camouflage Money moved past the 28 2/5 quarter and took the lead well before a 57 second half. From there, he hit the three-quarters in 1:24 1/5 before winning by four lengths and reducing his record for trainer Linda Toscano and the ownership of South Mountain Stables, JAF Racing LLC., and Toscano's own Camelot Stable Inc.

In the other Bret Hanover, Gingras came first-over after splits of 28 2/5 and 57 3/5 with the Always B Miki-Caviart Sarah colt Caviart Scout, got to the lead nearing the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, then held off the horse on his back, Bounty Hunter, by a neck to win in 1:53 4/5. Trainer Nancy Takter had the colt ready after a 24-day layoff for Caviart Farms.

The Simpson stakes end their 2021 stay at Harrah's Philly tomorrow with $218,720 on the line for 2-year-old fillies in three divisions each of the Razzle Hanover Pace and the Davidia Hanover Trot.

--press release (PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)--