Meadowlands: Graduate Series splits to Ruthless Hanover, Poseidon Seelster

Ruthless Hanover and driver Andrew McCarthy made it two straight in the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers with a well-earned 1:48 victory in one of two $50,000 divisions at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. The son of Somebeachsomewhere had to do much more work than in his first Graduate score but was clearly up to it as the even-money choice.

Chief Mate and Scott Zeron were the fastest off the gate, with McCarthy willing to take a seat in fourth midway on the first turn as Chief Mate cut the quarter in 27 seconds flat. Sandbetweenmytoes, driven by Todd McCarthy, quarter-moved to the front, and that gave Ruthless Hanover his cue to hit the gas, but David Miller, with Allywag Hanover, had a similar idea and undercut the favorite with a high burst of speed to gain control. It wasn’t until the half, which was reached in 53 4/5, that Ruthless Hanover gained control, and the Tom Cancelliere-trained gelding marched to third quarter of 27 seconds flat, with Sandbetweenmytoes coming out without cover but failing to advance.

In the homestretch Ruthless Hanover had to take on another challenge, as Miller popped the pocket with Allywag Hanover but couldn’t dent the margin. Chief Mate looked to close in along the pylons for Zeron but lacked any clearance and had to wait for an opening between horses late. Save Me A Dance was able to knife through late for the place spot, with Chief Mate settling for the show spot.

Owned by John Cancelliere, Ruthless Hanover has now won eight of his 16 career starts and is a perfect two-for-two in 2021.

"I was trying to be a little kind to him the first quarter," said Andrew McCarthy. "We were going pretty good up the backstretch. He's an incredible horse."

In the first Graduate division of the evening, 14-1 outsider Poseidon Seelster scooted along the pylons in the late stages to edge favored Warrawee Vital and Tattoo Artist in a blanket finish. The 4-year-old altered son of Sunshine Beach took a career mark of 1:47 4/5 in the process and was the third sub-1:50 performer by his Ontario-based sire on the program.

George Brennan guided Poseidon Seelster out alertly and parked Tattoo Artist midway on the turn before yielding. Warrawee Vital was urged strongly to gain control by Tim Tetrick, getting there in 26 2/5 and putting the field in line.

Tetrick did his best from there to slow the pace, hitting the half in 53 4/5 and three-quarters in 1:21 as No Lou Zing attempted a first-over grind that wouldn’t get him up to the leader.

Once the field turned into the homestretch, Tattoo Artist and driver David Miller took dead-aim on Warrawee Vital and looked to be going by in mid-stretch. With Warrawee Vital and Tattoo Artist nose -to-nose for much of the final 100 yards, Brennan alertly took the inside route and roused the Nik Drennan-trained Poseidon Seelster to get his nose up on the wire.

Owned by Lindsay, Kleinpaste, Alempijevic and Bechtel, Poseidon Seelster has won three of five starts this year and was second in the opening leg of the Graduate on May 1.

"The trip couldn't have worked out any better," said Brennan. "I told Nik (Drennan) that I was happy to be sitting in. Everything worked out perfectly."