Meadowlands: Ruthless Hanover rolls in Dave Brower Memorial Open Pace

Ruthless Hanover has been blazing a trail in 2023, showcasing his incredible speed, and on Saturday night he was a speed show personified for driver Tim Tetrick, roaring to a track record-equaling 1:46 4/5 mile in the $158,140 Dave Brower Memorial Open Pace at the Meadowlands.

Ruthless Hanover started from post three and Tetrick had him energized from the outset to grab control and keep it. Though Lochinvar Art A and This Is The Plan left to his outside, both those were content taking positions behind as the field rolled to a quick opening quarter. Tattoo Artist and Dexter Dunn had left from post 10, and unlike the other rivals, pursued the front in a major way, getting parked the entire 25 2/5 quarter before clearing to the top.

Tetrick wasted little time in letting his intentions be known, putting Ruthless Hanover on top with a retake and keeping the pace lively, hitting the half in 52 4/5. Race favorite Abuckabett Hanover and Andrew McCarthy had remained parked from the start and were able to fish out cover in the form of Lochinvar Art A and driver Lauren Tritton. That flow, however, was anything but smooth for the favorite, as Tetrick and Ruthless Hanover turned up the energy in the third quarter, sprinting it in 27 seconds flat to reach the three-quarters in a wicked 1:19 4/5.

Tetrick's move gave his horse separation from Tattoo Artist and the rest, and the lead would prove insurmountable as Abuckabett Hanover and McCarthy closed in bravely but came up well short in second. Red Right Hand was rallying late for third, with Lochinvar Art A quite game in finishing a distant fourth.

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Trained by Tom Cancelliere and owned by his brother John, Ruthless Hanover was a winner for the fifth time in eight starts this year. A 6-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere, Ruthless Hanover was sent off as the second choice and returned $8.40 with the victory.

"He's tough, he's rugged and he likes to go fast," said Tetrick, summing up the best parts of Ruthless Hanover. "I wanted to get everybody tired before the stretch."

Tetrick's strategy, in just his second start behind Ruthless Hanover, proved the decisive factor on Saturday.

Tom Cancelliere added that the W.R. Haughton Memorial in two weeks on Meadowlands Pace night is up next for Ruthless Hanover.