When the Harrisburg sale in November of 2023 approached, trainer Sam DePinto was looking to buy a foal from the first crop of Papi Rob Hanover. "I saw what he did on the racetrack, especially that mile in the Adios elimination," said DePinto. "I mean, it looked like he could have gone even faster." The 1:47 1/5 blowout victory was a thing to behold and proved to be Papi Rob Hanover's last race, something that his trainer Brett Pelling opined on. "I'm not sure when the fracture occurred, but it may have contributed to the speed he showed," said Pelling. Regardless of how fast Papi Rob Hanover may have eventually gone had his racing career continued, DePinto liked what he saw in the physical appearance of the son of Somebeachsomwhere and wanted to be a part of the first crop. "The problem was the horses that sold on Monday (first day of yearling sale) went way too high for my budget," said DePinto. "Then I ran into Anthony Perretti, and he had a beautiful-looking colt that I just loved." The Papi Rob Hanover-sired Papis Pistol would impress DePinto enough to put together an ownership team to buy the colt with Perretti. Pelling and DePinto have common interests in sons of Papi Rob Hanover, and they will be potent forces on Saturday night (November 30) in the $383,200 Governor's Cup for juvenile pacing colts and geldings at the Meadowlands. With just 10 horses declared for last week's potential eliminations, all proceeded to the final, including four sons of Papi Rob Hanover's first crop who are trying to emulate their sire, who captured the title with a brilliant 1:51 1/5 mile in the 2019 edition. "I felt very confident going into the race," said Pelling about Papi Rob Hanover's command performance in the 2019 Governor's Cup. Pelling's confidence going into this year's edition is a bit different. With Sugar Man and Beach Club Monty, Pelling has a pair of late bloomers that have shown up late in the season with stakes success but have yet to take on the cream of the crop. Pelling likes his chances but recognizes the challenge. "Sugar Man was a May foal and is first starting to grow a little," said Pelling of one of the better-bred sons from Papi Rob Hanover's first crop. "I think as he grows more and fills out, he's going to be a much better 3-year-old." Still, Sugar Man's progress has been quite evident over the last six weeks, including a solid 1:51 4/5 prep this past Saturday (November 23) in an overnight event at the Meadowlands. "I think you saw, when you ask him, he'll go on a bit more," said Pelling. Sugar Man's maternal family has been among the best in recent years. His dam Sweet As Sugar is the only full sister to top stallion Sweet Lou, with the immediate family also responsible for millionaires Captain Crunch, Youaremycandygirl and Bettor Sweet. While Pelling's pair of Papi Rob Hanover's may be on the fringe of contention in the Governor's Cup, DePinto's is likely to stand center stage as one of the horses to beat given his impeccable late-season form. "I liked him from the start," said DePinto. "From early on I would tell people that I thought he'd pace in 1:49-1:50 at Lexington this year." ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter DePinto was only half-right as Papis Pistol would miss the Grand Circuit meet at The Red Mile but be ready for the Kindergarten Series final leg and score on the front-end in 1:49 3/5 with Andy Miller in the bike. "He's had some issues with his feet," said DePinto, "But we've worked on it and he's much better now." Papis Pistol was a decisive winner in the $148,500 Kindergarten Series final at the Meadowlands on November 9 in 1:50 3/5 and then prepped for the Governor's Cup with a solid qualifier two weeks later. "Andy didn't even pop the [ear] plugs in the Kindergarten final," said DePinto, obviously elated with how far his colt has come. "I still think he's a better horse chasing, but he's learned to race on the front-end, and that will help him in the long run." DePinto, like Pelling, sees an incredible upside for his son of Papi Rob Hanover next year as a sophomore. "I think he's only going to get better," said DePinto. "I'm really looking forward to next year." Pelling may be the only one with the ability to compare Papi Rob Hanover to his sons and daughters since he's sat behind both. "I'd say the one thing I've seen with almost all the ones I've trained is that they are quick learners and do things right," said Pelling. "I think what we're going to see with them is that they are going to be solid racehorses that continue to race past the 3-year-old season." Pelling sees Papi Rob Hanover's foals emulating that of the Somebeachsomewhere's when it comes to longevity. Trainer Ron Burke will send out three horses in the Governor's Cup, with his Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Papi's Rocket the lone representative from the first-year stallion. Papi's Rocket will be making his 15th start of the year. In addition to his accomplishments in Pennsylvania, the colt also competed in the Metro and Breeders Crown this year. Trainers Tony Alagna and Nancy Takter are responsible for a pair each in the Governor's Cup field, with Takter's Captain Optimistic, a sub-1:50 performer in capturing a Breeders Crown elimination, the most accomplished of the quartet. Takter also has the impeccably-bred Fusion (Always B Miki-Pure Country), a Kentucky Commonwealth champion this year that enters the Cup following four straight qualifying miles. Alagna's pair of Higher Ground and Knockout Round have both played outside the Grand Circuit much of the year, with Knockout Round recently third in the Matron at Dover Downs. What's fascinating about the breeding business when compared to racing is how fortunes can change rapidly once first crops hit the racetrack. When Papi Rob Hanover and Tall Dark Stranger met on the racetrack they were hard to separate, with Tall Dark Stranger having the longer career and capturing the biggest races. The pair left the track with both residing at Pennsylvania's famed Hanover Shoe Farms. As expected, Tall Dark Stranger was a much higher-priced stallion at the outset and booked champion mares in abundance. Papi Rob Hanover's first crop of mares couldn't compare with that of his rival. Fast forward a few years and Papi Rob Hanover's representation in major stakes this year has been abundant and Tall Dark Stranger's has been minimal at best. It's just one year and no one truly knows what the future will bring. A champion may spring from either down the road. What we do know is that both will stand as stallions at Hanover in 2025 with Papi Rob Hanover now the more expensive of the two.