Meadowlands: Hannelore Hanover cruises in 2018 qualifying debut

Spring was certainly in the air as some of the stars of the Standardbred sport made their first charted appearances on the track in morning qualifying action at the Meadowlands on Saturday (April 21).

Headlining the 12-race card was 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover. With regular driver Yannick Gingras in tow, the now 6-year-old trotting mare easily made her way to the front while setting comfortable fractions of 28 3/5, 57 4/5 and 1:26 3/5.

Gingras tapped his charge lightly with the stick in the stretch, and she accelerated with a spectacular 26 4/5 final quarter into a steady headwind to best a solid Tuonoblu Rex in 1:53 2/5.

“She was perfect,” said Gingras. “She was really happy and sound, and I didn’t have to go too fast with her.

"When I asked her she came home in 26 4/5 into the wind. I don’t think any of the pacers even came home like that.”

Hannelore Hanover, trained by Ron Burke for Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva Stables, is expected to qualify again next week before heading to the A.J. Cutler Memorial on May 5 at the Meadowlands.

Burke also sent out multi millionaire trotter Crazy Wow to victory.

After fractions of 28 2/5, 56 4/5 and 1:25 4/5, Crazy Wow dug in gamely for driver David Miller to win in 1:54 2/5. Caprice Hill, trained by Tony Alagna, was second in the mile with Gingras. Gingras also finished second with promising 3-year-old pacing colt Dorsoduro Hanover and 4-year-old pacer Filibuster Hanover later on the card for Burke.

"They all raced well and showed what they were ready to do today. The mare (Caprice Hill) may have been a touch short late, but she raced well," said Gingras.

Dorsoduro Hanover set the fractions in his mile before getting caught by Captain Deo from the Alagna barn. Captain Deo finished off his 1:53 winning mile with a visually impressive final eighth to secure a half-length victory. Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion 2-year-old from 2017 Pedro Hanover finished fourth, beaten just over four lengths.

Filibuster Hanover’s second-place finish was at the hands of fellow 4-year-old Blood Line. The Jimmy Takter trainee sat the pocket behind Blue Moon Stride and won, going on in the stretch by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:50 4/5, the fastest mile of the morning.

Another Takter stable charge, Decoy, was also quite sharp in his first start since the Kentucky Sire Stakes final last September. Decoy waited in third through a 1:23 3/5 three-quarter time before finishing strong in the final yards to win in 1:51 2/5. Decoy is a 3-year-old son of the late Somebeachsomewhere.

A bunch of potential top sophomore pacers were in attendance to train but did not qualify. Those included the Joe Holloway standout filly Rainbow Room and a pair of Alagna-trained colts, Breeders Crown winner Stay Hungry and American History.

“We trained 12 today in sets. Stay Hungry and American History trained really well,” said Alagna, who said both 3-year-olds would qualify next week before aiming for their first starts. “Stay Hungry will probably go to the second leg of the PA Sire Stakes at Pocono and American History we’ll have to see; maybe a New York Sire Stakes at Vernon.”