Meadowlands: Abuckabett Hanover vaults off cover to Haughton crown

Perched in second-over position by driver Dexter Dunn, Abuckabett Hanover lunged off his cover in a stretch sprint to overhaul pace-setter Voukefalas and win the $428,000 William Haughton Memorial, for older pacers, at the Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 13).

Leaving from post five, Abuckabett Hanover floated away to race sixth as Voukefalas powered through an early shuffle to plant onto the lead after a 26 1/5 first quarter. Allywag Hanover yielded for the pocket spot moving up the backside while Voukefalas cruised on the point to a 53 3/5 half.

Abuckabett Hanover, meanwhile, waited for cover to follow and fished some from Charlie May, pulling out of fifth, moving for the far turn. Charlie May carried Abuckabett Hanover forward as Voukefalas maintained a sturdy tempo to three-quarters in 1:21 4/5. But once Charlie May hit his limit from first-over, Dunn launched Abuckabett Hanover into flight into the stretch. Voukefalas kicked away in the lane and tried to withstand the swift surge from Abuckabett Hanover, though his efforts proved futile in the final yards. Abuckabett Hanover kept charging and slid past Voukefalas to a three-quarter-length win in 1:47 4/5. Allywag Hanover gave chase in third, and It's My Show came from third-over for fourth.

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"This certainly is the type of race I wanted to be here for," said co-owner William Pollock, who - along with Bruce Areman - fronted $534,000 to buy Abuckabett Hanover at the end of 2022. “But it takes a whole team. With Dex [Dunn], with Andrew [Harris], my partner Bruce...they put it together, they figure out who we have to go out and get, and it's paying dividends today. He was the type of horse that Andrew and Bruce loved. When he came onto an auction, they said 'Bill, if you're going to jump in, this is the horse to jump in on. He's a real heartfelt horse, loves to close.' That’s what we loved best about him. He's the first horse I’ve ever had, so he's the O.G. of the stable."

Winning his 18th race from 64 starts and adding to his bankroll now worth $1,512,866, Abuckabett Hanover races for owners William Pollock, Bruce Areman and trainer Andrew Harris. The 6-year-old stallion by Betting Line, out of the Western Ideal mare All Tucked Up, paid $3.80 to win.